Defamation Case: Tejinder Singh to record his statement today before Delhi Court

Defamation Case: Tejinder Singh to record his statement today before Delhi Court

Lt. Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh, who filled a defamation case against Army Chief General V K Singh and four others, accusing them of misusing their official positions, power and authority to level false charges against him (Tejinder), is likely to record his statement before a Delhi court today.

Singh has filled a suit against Army Chief, Vice-chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Lt Gen B S Thakur (DG MI), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney in a Delhi court alleging Army chief had levelled false allegations against him in the March 5 press release in order to get his name cleared from the phone tapping controversy. Publishing his name in a press release issued in the connection of Tatra sub standard truck bribery case, also defamed him, he alleged.

In the last hearing, metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar had asked him to record pre-summoning evidence in support of his allegations levelled against the five accused.

During the hearing, the court had inquired from Tejinder Singh and his counsel about the respective roles of the five accused in the case.

Tejinder Singh refuted allegations that he has offered bribe for purchase of sub-standard vehicles.

Tejinder Singh's counsel had said the press release issued by Army officials was illegal as they were not authorised to do so and the officials could not address the media directly.

The Army chief had claimed in media interviews that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file relating to purchase of a tranche of 600 "sub-standard" vehicles of a particular make and he had immediately informed defence minister A K Antony about it.

In a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Antony had said that the Army chief had told him about Tejinder Singh allegedly offering him the bribe, which he heard with "shock" and asked him to take action against the person.

But the Army chief did not want to pursue the matter for unknown reasons, the minister had said.

--With Agencies Input--