NEW DELHI: In an emotionally charged speech, Defence minister AK Antony on Tuesday confirmed that Army chief VK Singh had told him a year ago about an attempt to bribe him by a retired army officer, but defended his inaction, stating he was helpless in the absence of a written complaint.
“He (army chief) told me that one General — I think, Tejinder Singh — met him and offered him crores of rupees bribe,” Antony said in Rajya Sabha, adding that the meeting took place over a year ago. “I sat like that for a minute,” said Antony, demonstrating it by holding his head in his hand.
“Then, I told him, “Take action”. But he told me, ‘I don’t want to proceed with it’.
I don’t know why. He said, ‘I don’t want to proceed with it’, at that time. After that he did not give any written complaint to me or to the Defence Department or to the Department of Defence Production,” said Antony.
As soon as the House convened on Tuesday, BJP members demanded that the defence minister make a statement, following reports of the army chief stating that he was offered a bribe of `14 crore. But, after the government said Antony will speak in the House, question hour resumed. “I will say the truth, and nothing but the truth,” said Antony in his speech, which was punctuated by applause, sometimes from the Opposition benches too.
Antony hinted it was impossible to take action, as there was no written complaint in the matter. “If at all there was any complaint, he could have given a written complaint to me or to the department….
My practice in the Defence Ministry... is that if I receive... written complaint or even any anonymous letter, I... ask the Department to make an inquiry.
I have not received any written complaint so as to enable me to act”. The minister said he ordered a CBI inquiry after the Army Chief’s interview was published.
“If anybody is found guilty, whoever he may be, howsoever powerful he is, I will take action. I will not spare anybody.
But I must get some complaint from somebody,” Antony said.