Defence minister AK Antony outside Parliament on Tuesday. Picture by Ramakant Kushwaha

New Delhi, March 27: Defence minister A.K. Antony told Parliament today that Gen. V.K. Singh had indeed told him about a retired officer trying to bribe him “more than a year ago” but said he did not proceed on the case because the army chief “did not want to pursue it”.

In effect, while confirming Gen. V.K. Singh’s complaint, the defence minister has put the onus on the army chief. Gen. V.K. Singh, said Antony, had also not given a written complaint to him about the alleged bribery attempt by a retired lieutenant general. The minister told Parliament that the army chief had referred to Lt Gen. Tejinder Singh (who retired as the director-general, Defence Intelligence Agency in July 2010).

Gen. V.K. Singh had told the defence minister that Lt Gen. Tejinder Singh had offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to re-dedicate a contract for 600 Czech-origin Tatra all-terrain vehicles assembled in India by Defence Public Sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).

Antony said that he had referred the matter to the CBI for an investigation as soon as the general’s interview on the bribery attempt was published on Monday. A retired officer, Colonel R.S.N. Singh, claimed today that the conversation between Lt Gen. Tejinder Singh and Gen. V.K. Singh was recorded and the audio is available with the defence establishment. There was no confirmation or denial of this by the army.

“This happened more than a year ago. That is my memory. The exact date they (army officials) know because no one can meet the army chief without any appointment,” an emotional Antony told a quiet Rajya Sabha. He added that he held his head in his hand because he was so “shocked” and told the army chief to take action. “But he (the army chief) told me I do not want to pursue it. I don’t know why he did not want to pursue it at that time,” Antony said.

The minister said “all my life I have fought against corruption”. He said he even takes action on the basis of anonymous letters that allege corruption in defence procurement. “I acted on my judgement. If I am wrong, you may punish me,” he told the House. “I think I have done my best.”

The complaint by the army chief was verbal. As such the origin of the complaint could not be in doubt. But the army chief had not complained in writing and had told him that he did not want to pursue it, Antony said. “I will take action against anybody, howsoever powerful he may be, if he is found guilty of any wrongdoing.”

Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said that the differences between the army chief and the government that have now come to encompass attempted bribery at such a high level “is becoming curiouser and curiouser”. Jaitley said there was civilian control over the army “and something seems to be going wrong with our statecraft”. He said that issues that ought to be settled behind closed doors were being debated publicly.

But Jaitley said he was not doubting Antony’s honesty.

“I think it is for him, as the head of the ministry, to make an assessment between a substantive charge or a baseless charge. It appears to him that the charge is not frivolous and merits an inquiry, even when it is orally brought to his notice — anonymous or otherwise, I am not getting into that controversy — then the same has to be primarily inquired into,” Jaitley said.

The CPM’s T.K. Rangarajan also questioned Antony on why he did not act on the complaint by the army chief.

“Is this an issue on which both of them should have put blinkers on their eyes and not inquired into the matter at all,” Jaitley wondered.

According to agencies, Antony said: “My problem is that I cannot ignore any complaint. That is why it delays procurement…. In spite of these, procurement is not bad. Last year it was 100 per cent.”

BJP member S.S. Ahluwalia wanted to know the terms of reference of the CBI inquiry the minister has ordered.

His party colleague Balbir Punj asked Antony why he had done nothing after the army chief’s complaint to him even when he claimed that he had taken action even on anonymous complaints.

Rangarajan asked the minister why he did not pursue the matter himself after the army chief had brought the matter to his notice. “Why he (Antony) took the statement of the general so casually?” he asked.

Antony, who at the outset said: “I will say the truth, nothing but the truth,” ended the impromptu debate saying: “I am telling you the truth that has happened.”