The controversial chairman and managing director of BEML Ltd, V R S Natarajan announced on Monday evening that he has retired as the CMD of public sector defence company.
In a letter released to media by the CMD’s office of BEML, Natarajan said he retired as CMD on September 30, 2012 after attaining superannuation. Natarajan was under suspension for his alleged role in Tatra truck scam, which was made public by former chief of Army General V K Singh.
Also Read
Related Stories
News Now
- Tatra case: BEML chief suspended by Defence Ministry
- I will come out clean, says suspended BEML chairman
- BEML hits 52-week low
- BEML targets 23% growth in turnover at Rs 5,000 cr in FY13
- BEML threatens to sue retired Army chief Singh
- Tatra scandal hits BEML, Global Vectra stocks
The letter, which carried the signature of Natarajan listed out some of his achievements as the CMD of the company over the last decade.
“As you may be aware, I am laying down office as on September 30, 2012, on attaining superannuation after an eventful record of unprecedented contribution made to the company during my tenure of almost 10 years as its CEO. We have firmed up our BEML vision 2013 to achieve the turnover of Rs 5,000 crore in 2013-14 and accordingly taken several initiatives through diversification, modernisation and expansion, including organizational restructuring,” he said.
The controversial chairman and managing director of BEML Ltd, V R S Natarajan announced on Monday evening that he has retired as the CMD of public sector defence company.
In a letter released to media by the CMD’s office of BEML, Natarajan said he retired as CMD on September 30, 2012 after attaining superannuation. Natarajan was under suspension for his alleged role in Tatra truck scam, which was made public by former chief of Army General V K Singh.
The letter, which carried the signature of Natarajan listed out some of his achievements as the CMD of the company over the last decade.
“As you may be aware, I am laying down office as on September 30, 2012, on attaining superannuation after an eventful record of unprecedented contribution made to the company during my tenure of almost 10 years as its CEO. We have firmed up our BEML vision 2013 to achieve the turnover of Rs 5,000 crore in 2013-14 and accordingly taken several initiatives through diversification, modernisation and expansion, including organizational restructuring,” he said.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/controversial-cmdbeml-natarajan-retires/190260/on
October 11th, 2012
The Central Bureau of Investigation has strong reasons to suspect that Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), through a memorandum of understanding with the Ravi Rishi-owned British company Tatra Sipox U.K., during the tenure of the suspended BEML chief V. R. S. Natarajan, allegedly partially surrendered the manufacturing rights of all-terrain Tatra trucks in 2003. The agency might now seek the opinion of the authorities concerned to verify the suspicion.
Investigations into the alleged irregularities in the supply of the trucks through BEML to the Indian Army have so far revealed that based on the 1986 and 1997 agreements with the manufacturers, BEML had gained exclusive rights to manufacture the trucks in India. However, through an MoU with Tatra Sipox U.K. in February 2003, it is alleged that the manufacturing rights were partially surrendered by excluding the axle part of the truck.
Full article: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/beml-allegedly-surrendered-tatra-truck-manufacturing-rights-partially/article3932886.ece
September 28th, 2012
With procurement of Tatra trucks put on hold, the Defence Ministry is facing problems in maintenance of over 7,000 of these vehicles in the armed forces and is likely to seek advice from the Law Ministry in this regard.
The Ministry is likely to seek the opinion of the Law Ministry on how it should go about the maintenance of Tatra trucks as supply of all-terrain vehicles from the UK-based company has been put on hold because of a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in their purchase, sources told PTI.
After getting the view of the Law Ministry, a final decision on the issue may be taken by the Ministry’s Defence Acquisition Council, they said here.
The issue of maintenance of these trucks is a key area for the armed forces as high-value assets such as strategic missiles and other heavy weapon systems are based on these vehicles.
After then Army Chief Gen V K Singh levelled bribery allegations in connection with procurement of Tatra trucks, Defence Minister A K Antony had ordered a CBI probe in the case.
Procurement of trucks from Tatra were put on hold after that and CBI has questioned several officials including the head of Tatra Vectra in this regard.
The Defence Ministry is also in the process of cancelling an order, placed after CBI began its probe, for one Tatra truck worth over Rs 50 lakh for meeting a DRDO requirement in May.
The Chairman of BEML, which was supplying these trucks in India in partnership with Tatra, has been suspended by the Ministry for ensuring a free and fair probe into the charges.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_problem-in-upkeep-of-tatra-trucks-defence-ministry_1746046
September 28th, 2012
Brno/Koprivnice, North Moravia, Sept 5 (CTK) – Czech state attorney Jan Petrasek yesterday rejected Tatra lorry maker chief Ronald Adams’ complaint against his prosecution over alleged corruption, Tatra’s spokesman Vladimir Bystrov told CTK.
He said Tatra was not surprised by the decision and believes that the police will investigate the case as soon as possible.
Ctnd….. http://praguemonitor.com/2012/09/06/state-attorney-rejects-tatra-ceos-complaint
September 6th, 2012
Arrest of Tatra CEO threatens bilateral relations between ČR and U.S.
The man at the center of a military corruption scandal says his case could strain diplomatic ties between the Czech Republic and the United States.
Ronald Adams, the American CEO of Czech-based truck maker Tatra, was detained by police in Brno Aug. 20 for allegedly offering a bribe in 2009 – a charge he denies. The 62-year-old has since been released from custody after a local court ruled he would not be a flight risk during the course of the investigation.
The allegation of bribery relates to a 2.7 billion Kč ($136 million/109 million euro) contract with the Czech Army for 588 military vehicles, signed in December 2006. Tatra had free rein to bid for the tender, on the condition only Czech sub-suppliers be used to boost the country’s industry sector.
The man at the center of a military corruption scandal says his case could strain diplomatic ties between the Czech Republic and the United States.
Ronald Adams, the American CEO of Czech-based truck maker Tatra, was detained by police in Brno Aug. 20 for allegedly offering a bribe in 2009 – a charge he denies. The 62-year-old has since been released from custody after a local court ruled he would not be a flight risk during the course of the investigation.
The allegation of bribery relates to a 2.7 billion Kč ($136 million/109 million euro) contract with the Czech Army for 588 military vehicles, signed in December 2006. Tatra had free rein to bid for the tender, on the condition only Czech sub-suppliers be used to boost the country’s industry sector.
August 30th, 2012
Ostrava, North Moravia/Brno, South Moravia, Aug 24 (CTK) – Tatra lorry maker chief Ronald Adams, accused of having offered a bribe to former defence minister Martin Bartak, has filed a complaint against the launch of criminal proceedings, his defence lawyer Jiri Matijasevic confirmed for CTK Friday.
“I can confirm that the complaint has been filed. There are both legal and formal shortcomings in the accusation,” Matijasevic said.
He would not comment on the details of the complaint until the relevant state attorney is acquainted with it.
Adams, who is a U.S. citizen, categorically dismisses the accusation. He told journalists that it is a big lie.
http://praguemonitor.com/2012/08/27/tatra-lorry-maker-head-complains-about-accusation-czechrep
August 28th, 2012
The head of lorry maker Tatra, Ronald Adams, accused of having offered a bribe to former defence minister Martin Bartak, has filed a complaint against the launch of criminal proceedings against him, his defence lawyer Jiri Matijasevic said on Friday. “I can confirm that the complaint has been filed. There are both legal and formal shortcomings in the accusation,” Matijasevic said. Adams, who is a U.S. citizen, has categorically denied the accusation.
August 27th, 2012
August 22nd, 2012
Prague – Police have accused the chief of the Czech branch of the Tatra Ronald Adams of bribery. According to them, at the Brno trade fair offered the then deputy defense minister Martin Bartak bribe for that office in the future enters Tatra other defense contracts. ČTK It said board member Duncan Sellars. He said the automaker considers unjustified prosecutions and the police as “extremely suspicious.” The Brno Municipal Court will today decide whether Adams sent into custody. Men are liable if convicted to five years in prison.
US CEO of Czech truck-maker detained in graft case
PRAGUE — Ronald Adams, the American chief executive and owner of the Czech-based truck-maker Tatra, has denied graft allegations linked to a Czech defence contract for which he has been detained, Tatra said Tuesday.
The case involves a 2008-2009 military contract for 588 Tatra trucks valued at 2.7 billion koruna (109 million euros, $135 million).
Adams was detained Monday after former Czech defence minister Martin Bartak, accused in 2010 of attempted corruption linked to the same contract, testified against him, a Tatra company spokesman told AFP.
“Within the framework of an investigation into the case in which Mr. Bartak is charged with corruption, Bartak said that Mr. Adams offered him a bribe,” Vladimir Bystrov told AFP.
“Tatra is confident that the ongoing investigation launched on the basis of the testimony of persons already charged with corruption is without foundation,” Bystrov said.
A decision on whether Adams will be remanded in custody is to be made within 48-hours of Adams’ detention, he added.
“It is evident that the principle objective is to put in doubt the credibility of Mr. Adams as a witness and to intimidate him along with all other persons who dare testify openly about corruption at the highest levels in the Czech state,” a Tatra statement said Tuesday.
Bartak, 45, served as deputy Czech defence minister in 2006-8 and defence minister in the ex-communist NATO state from 2009-10.
In 2010 he was accused of attempted corruption based on the testimony of former US ambassador, William J. Cabaniss who served in Prague between 2003-5.
In Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perception Index, the Czech Republic ranked 57th alongside Namibia and Saudi Arabia on the list of 183 countries, topped by squeaky clean New Zealand and ending with Somalia.
Copyright © 2012 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/policie-obvinila-sefa-tatry-adamse-dnes-se-rozhodne-o-jeho-vazbe/830738?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed
August 21st, 2012
New Delhi: The three armed forces have put on hold induction of Tatra trucks for their ongoing projects fromBEML in the wake of the ongoing investigations against it.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/services-put-on-hold-induction-of-tatra-trucks/articleshow/15379434.cms
August 13th, 2012
