The Defence Minister A.K. Antony has ordered a CBI probe into an alleged attempted bribe of 14 crore rupees to the Army Chief Gen.V.K.Singh. The Defence Spokesperson, Sitanshu Kar told All India Radio that the inquiry has been ordered today.

In a report, published in a prominent English newspaper, Gen.V.K.Singh said, the lobbyist had offered him the bribe in order to have tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles of a particular make cleared for purchase.

He said, the vehicles, 7000 of which were already in use in the army, had been sold over the years at exorbitant prices with no questions asked.

Gen. Singh alleged that there was no proper facility where they could be serviced and maintained and yet they continued to be sold to the Army.

The Army Chief said that the brazenness of the act shocked him out of his wits. The General said that he went straight to Mr. Antony and reported the matter.