Defence Minister A.K. Antony Monday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into army chief Gen V.K. Singh’s allegations that he had been offered a bribe of Rs.14 crore.
Defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar told IANS here that the minister gave the orders after seeing reports of army chief’s claim in this regard.
The army chief told The Hindu Monday that a lobbyist offered him a bribe of Rs.14 crore to have tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles of a particular make cleared for purchase.
“Just imagine, these men had the gumption to walk up to me and tell me that if i cleared the tranche, he would give me Rs. 14 crore. He was offering a bribe to me,” the army chief said.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon after opposition members raised the allegations levelled by army chief Gen. V.K. Singh that he had been offered a bribe to clear a tranche of 600 substandard vehicles.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon after opposition members raised the demand for separate statehood for Telangana.
As soon as the Rajya Sabha met in the morning, members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some other opposition parties were on their feet, demanding a response from the government on the revelations made by the army chief.
The BJP had give a notice for suspension of question hour on the issue.
Chairman Hamid Ansari said all matters were discussed in the house through appropriate procedures. He urged members to allow question hour to proceed. However, as opposition members did not relent, the house was adjourned till 12.
In the Lok Sabha, members of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and some other parties raised the demand for carving out a state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.
Some members also raised the allegations by Gen Singh that he had been offered a bribe to clear the purchase of substandard equipment.
Speaker Meira Kumar repeatedly urged members to allow normal functioning of the house. However, as the din continued, she adjourned the house till noon.
The BJP had earlier signaled its intention to raise allegations by Gen Singh in parliament Monday.
Party MP Prakash Javadekar said the revelations by the army chief were very serious.
“The government is neckdeep in corruption…The UPA has lost the right to continue even for a day,” Javadekar told television channels.