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BEML chief suspended by Defence Ministry

The defence ministry on Monday suspended BEML chief VRS Natarajan in connection with the Tatra scam, according to a defence ministry spokesperson.

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BEML Chief VRS Natarajan was on Monday suspended by the Defence Ministry in connection with the Tatra case on a CBI recommendation after former Army Chief Gen VK Singh levelled allegations that he was offered Rs14 crore bribe to clear a deal for 600 trucks.

The move comes a few days after the Defence Ministry issued a show cause notice to the BEML Chief for slapping a defamation notice against Gen VK Singh without its permission.

"The Government has put the CMD of BEML VRS Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation. The CBI is currently investigating into various charges against Natarajan," Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said here.

"The charge of CMD has been given to P Dwarkanath, the senior most functional Director in BEML," he said.

Natarajan is being questioned by the CBI in a separate case regarding alleged irregularities in procurement and supply of Tatra all terrain vehicles to army but he is not an accused in the case.

Gen VK Singh, who retired on May 31 after holding the post of the Army chief for over two years, had alleged in March that he was offered Rs14 crore bribe by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh to clear supply of a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks from BEML.

On June 6, the defence ministry had sought an explanation from BEML chief VRS Natarajan for serving a legal notice on Gen VK Singh demanding an apology for his alleged defamatory statements against the defence PSU on the Tatra truck issue.

The CBI has also booked the BEML chairman for alleged cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption in connection with tendering process for hiring a private consultancy firm and carried out searches at several locations including his residence.

The case related to award of contract for the implementation of Enterprises Resource Planning Project in the public sector undertaking during 2004-09.

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