Defence Minister A K Antony
today said he had asked Army Chief, General V K Singh to take action after he told him about the bribe offer but he did not want to pursue the matter for unknown reasons. Making a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Antony responded to questions as to why he did not act on the allegation by saying that he had not received any complaint from the army chief in writing. He told the House that after Gen Singh's allegation appeared in the media yesterday, he had ordered a CBI inquiry based on newspaper reports.

Recalling the incident, the minister said the Army chief had told him that one retired General Tejender Singh met him and offered 14 crore rupees bribe. He assured the House that action will be taken against the guilty, however powerful they may be. The minister said in the past he has taken action even on anonymous complaints from any quarters.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony asserted that utmost probity will be maintained in defence procurement in his Ministry.
He declared that no one, howsoever powerful, will be spared once the inquiry report is in hand. The CBI will fully scrutinize the whole issue now.