Explanation sought from BEML chief on notice to V K Singh

The defence ministry on Wedneday sought an explanation from BEML chief VRS Natarajan for serving a legal notice on former Army Chief Gen VK Singh demanding an apology for his alleged defamatory statements against the defence PSU on the Tatra truck issue.

"The defence ministry categorically denies giving permission to the BEML chief to serve a legal notice for filing a defamation suit against Gen VK Singh," defence ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said .

He said the ministry has "asked Natarajan to explain as to why he made such a statement to the media." Gen Singh, who retired on May 31 after holding the post of 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.

The CBI is investigating the case. On June 1, a day after Gen Singh retired from office, the BEML chief had held a press conference in Bangalore asking the former army chief to apologise for alleged "defamatory" statements against the company and its products.

"The former Army Chief has made some allegations against BEML. As the CEO of the company, I deny them as absolutely false, motivated, damaging and defamatory", Natarajan had said.

However, Singh refused to apologise to BEML saying that he had just stated the facts.