New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the Vectra group chief Ravinder Rishi’s plea for permission to visit UK for his medical treatment and to attend to his business there.
Facing a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks to public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited by his firm Tatra-Sipox UK, 57-year-old Rishi, a British national, had sought the court’s permission to go to the UK for four weeks.
Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh, however, denied him the permission.
The CBI had opposed Rishi’s plea saying that the probe into the case is still going on and the most of the investigation is to be carried out in the UK.
The court had yesterday reserved its order on Rishi’s plea after hearing the arguments from both the sides.
Rishi, in his plea, had also sought a direction to the CBI to suspend the lookout circular, issued against him on March 31 this year.
The CBI had opposed Rishi’s plea apprehending that he may flee if he is allowed to go to the UK and might destroy the crucial evidence.
His counsel, however, had argued before the court that all evidence related to the case is documentary and is in CBI’s possession as well as in the government’s record and his client cannot tamper with it.
Rishi’s counsel had also argued that his client has always co-operated with the CBI and has joined the probe. He had also cited the reports of the doctors in England, under whom Rishi is undergoing treatment for liver ailments and other diseases, saying he needs urgent medical attention.
PTI
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the Vectra group chief Ravinder Rishi’s plea for permission to visit UK for his medical treatment and to attend to his business there.
Facing a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks to public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited by his firm Tatra-Sipox UK, 57-year-old Rishi, a British national, had sought the court’s permission to go to the UK for four weeks.
Special CBI Judge Talwant Singh, however, denied him the permission.
The CBI had opposed Rishi’s plea saying that the probe into the case is still going on and the most of the investigation is to be carried out in the UK.
The court had yesterday reserved its order on Rishi’s plea after hearing the arguments from both the sides.
Rishi, in his plea, had also sought a direction to the CBI to suspend the lookout circular, issued against him on March 31 this year.
The CBI had opposed Rishi’s plea apprehending that he may flee if he is allowed to go to the UK and might destroy the crucial evidence.
His counsel, however, had argued before the court that all evidence related to the case is documentary and is in CBI’s possession as well as in the government’s record and his client cannot tamper with it.
Rishi’s counsel had also argued that his client has always co-operated with the CBI and has joined the probe. He had also cited the reports of the doctors in England, under whom Rishi is undergoing treatment for liver ailments and other diseases, saying he needs urgent medical attention.
NEW DELHI: The CBI, which registered a case against Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh on Saturday for allegedly trying to bribe then Army chief General VK Singh to clear the purchase ofTatra trucks for the Army, is conducting a parallel inquiry into the complaint regarding the monopoly Tatra has enjoyed for two decades in supplying all-terrain trucks to the defence forces. Sources said the chargesheet in the case is in the final stages and could be filed in a Delhi court shortly. The agency is expected to charge officials of Tatra and the public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited.
Sources said the raids were conducted at the residences of Rishi’s aide Gautam Thadani, MD of Global Healthline Private Ltd, Rajan Madhu, director of F-Bar in Ashoka Hotel and Rishi’s employees Anil Mansaramani and Vikram Kakia. CBI sleuths recovered Rs 98 lakh from Thadani’s house.
CBI sources said preliminary investigation established Tejinder Singh’s meeting with the then Army chief as well as that the latter was unhappy with what had transpired. During its probe, the CBI also established Tejinder Singh visited General V K Singh on September 22, 2010 because “the file related to procurement of Tatra trucks was lying on the table of army chief that day” and that “Tejinder Singh offered bribe on behalf of Ravi Rishi as he is closely associated with the latter”.
Defence minister AK Antony’s confirmation of General V K Singh’s “oral complaint” was found to be strong corroborative evidence.
But what strengthened the case for a formal investigation was evidence of Tejinder Singh’s alleged dealings with lobbyists for arms manufacturers, including a Korean company. Tejinder Singh has been booked under section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Under Section 12 of the Act, a person who abets the offence of making a public servant accept illegal gratification, whether or not that offence is committed in consequence of that abetment, can be punished with a minimum punishment of six months in jail which may extend to five years.
“We have evidence of his links with a shadowy set of former defence officers who were on the payroll of arms manufacturers and suppliers,” said a senior CBI source.
Last summer, I went for a visit to the Baltic coast. While returning from the Peenemünde rocket testing grounds, I came across this Ostalgia museum. Though concentrating on every day life in the former GDR including lots of East German vehicles, it also had a fairly good T 613 and a T 603 on show. I made quite some photos, but the camera was lost/stolen.
http://www.museumdargen.de/service/ausstellung.html
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.
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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
Davydutchy published some more photos of the TRN Flanders meeting on the web.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davydutchy/sets/72157631640899184/
*** This car will be offered at the 2012 Motorclassica Auction to be held in Melbourne on Sunday 28th October 2012 ***
1948 Tatra T87 Aerodynamic Limousine
Chassis number 3480332
Known today as a manufacturer of all wheel drive trucks and lorries, the Czech company Tatra is one of the oldest car manufacturers in the world. Its first passenger car was introduced in 1897 from what is the oldest vehicle factory in Central Europe and the second oldest in the world, though the Tatra name did not appear until 1919. It was in the 1930s and 1940s that Tatra was at the peak of its powers producing a range of aerodynamically streamlined luxury limousines that reached it apotheosis with the T87. As The Autocar Magazine said of one of its forerunners in 1935 it is, “A design of great interest embodying in principle the ideals of many designers.”
This 1948 Tatra T87 is one of the very first cars from the later production period of 1948 – 1950 and is a very fine example of what is a most rare vehicle. This car was found in Slovakia in 2000 and was purchased and then imported to Australia in 2002 by its current owner. This T87 was then subject to a US concours standard restoration by Sleeping Beauties of Brisbane, Queensland, a company renowned for exhibiting high quality restored cars at Pebble Beach. It is believed to be one of only a handful of T87s built with a T603 2.5 litre V8 engine and a sunroof. Accompanying the car is another original 3.0 litre T87 engine that was sourced during the restoration period before it was appreciated that the T603 was indeed its original power source. Whilst now an older restoration the car has travelled very few miles since the restoration was complete and it still presents fabulously today. This iconic vehicle is ready for presentation at major motoring events around the world. Jay Leno has one in his collection and rates it one of his most favourite cars!
Estimate AUS $240,000 – 260,000
Specifications
Engine: 2.5 litre air cooled alloy V8
Transmission: 4 speed manual
Highlights
Restoration by Sleeping Beauties
Believed one of a handful built with the later T603 engine and a sunroof
Icon of industrial design by Hans Ledwinka
Scientific aerodynamic design
http://www.oldtimeraustralia.com/wp_car_dealer/tatra-t87-aerodynamic-limousine/
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
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
The Dutch annual meeting crossed the southern border to Belgium, mainly its coastal area on the North Sea but cities like Mechelen, Antwerp, Gent and Ypres also had a glance of Dutch Tatras on tour, even welcoming them with Volgas, Wartburgs and Trabants. The meting saw participants from the UK. France, Belgium, Germany and Holland
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=52a884b5a1274d8c&id=52A884B5A1274D8C%2119500
