The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday questioned Ravinder Rishi, chairman of the Vectra Group, for the fifth time, over discrepancies in the Tatra-BEML deal. Rishi was questioned on the ownership structure of UK-based Tatra Sipox and Czech Republic-based Tatra AS. CBI sleuths also questioned him about the transactions that took place between the two companies and BEML, and the change of currency from dollar to euro for supplying trucks.
Rishi is likely to be called for questioning a few more times to corroborate his statements with the documents in possession of CBI. Rishi was also confronted by CBI with such documents during his questioning.
The investigative agency is trying to trace the defence ministry officials who could have been involved. CBI officials said they were still in the early stage of investigation. However, as the probe progresses, it may resort to sending official requests to the Czech Republic to further investigate the company and its dealings. While Vectra holds a majority stake in the Tatra, which makes trucks for armed forces, BEML is a PSU under the defence ministry. CBI registered a case against Rishi, unnamed officials of BEML, defence ministry and the Indian Army on March 30. It has alleged that BEML entered into a criminal conspiracy with Tatra-Sipox, which had a similar name to Tatra AS and manufactured military trucks.
CBI in its FIR has said that “the agreement signed earlier with a Foreign Trade Corporation of Czechoslovakia for military vehicles was fraudulently assigned to the said UK based company by showing it as the original OEM/ fully owned subsidiary of the Czech company.”