Services put on hold induction of Tatra trucks

The three armed forces have put on hold induction of Tatra trucks for their ongoing projects from BEML in the wake of the ongoing investigations against it.

The Defence Ministry will take a final call on the issue whether the services should go ahead with the induction of the trucks in consultation with the three Services chiefs, Ministry sources said here.

After the controversy over the trucks broke out in March, not a single Tatra truck has been inducted into the armed forces, they said.

The trucks, which are used for carrying out heavy-duty tasks in the Army and other two services, are to be used for ferrying missiles and their launchers such as the Pinaka multi barrel rocket launchers.

Former Army Chief Gen V K 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 a Rs 14 crore bribe by a former officer to clear supply of a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks from BEML.

Hours after Gen Singh's allegations were made public, Defence Minister AK Antony ordered a CBI probe into the whole episode.

BEML's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) for a long time V RS Natarajan was also suspended by Antony for ensuring fair probe into the charges levlled against the PSU.