Antony orders CBI probe into Army chief’s bribe allegation
26 Mar 2012
Terming as ''serious'' the allegation by Army chief Gen V K Singh that he was offered a bribe a Rs14 crore bribe to clear the purchase of substandard vehicles, defence minister A K Antony today ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter, and said, ''we will have to handle it''. (See: I was offered Rs14-cr bribe, says Army chief Singh)
Earlier in the day, the opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party brought both houses of Parliament to a standstill for some time over the issue. In the Lok Sabha, BJP members raised the issue from their seats. Amid the uproar, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the House till noon.
Similar scenes were enacted in the Rajya Sabha. Soon after the upper house met, BJP's Prakash Javadekar said he had given a notice for the suspension of Question Hour to discuss the Army chief's issue.
But Chairman Hamid Ansari told him, "This is Question Hour. Only questions will be taken up."
The BJP, AIADMK and JD-U members were on their feet raising slogans and displaying copies of the newspaper that carried the Army chief's interview where he made the allegation. Ansari then adjourned the House till noon.
