Tatra truck scam: CBI receives response to its judicial requests from Czech Republic and Slovakia

CBI has received replies to its judicial requests sent to Czech Republic and Slovakia in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the supply of Tatra all-terrain vehicles to the army.

The agency is yet to receive responses from the United Kingdom and Lichtenstein, CBI sources said.

They said the agency is primarily looking into ownership patterns of Tatra Sipox UK, promoted by Ravinder Rishi, an accused in the case, and the supply and assembling arrangements between Tatra companies based in Czech Republic and Slovakia.
CBI has questioned Rishi and senior officials of Defence Ministry and BEML, the sources said.

All have denied any irregularities in the supply of the all-terrain vehicles.

The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning supply from Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was signed in 1986, to Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as Original Equipment Manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company which was against rules, they said.

The sources said the agency has recovered crucial documents relating to the deal between Tatra Sipox UK, in which Rishi had substantial stake, and state-run BEML that show alleged irregularities at various levels.

CBI is also likely to expose alleged conspiracy to continue supply of trucks at higher prices even though other options were available with BEML.

CBI sources said Tatra Sipox UK claimed to be a representative of Slovakia based Tatra Sipox, which had the axle technology, while the rest of the trucks were manufactured by Czech Republic based Tatra a.S.