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‘Tatra truck engine sub-standard, used outdated technology’ - Indian Express

Tatra trucks procured by the Army through BEML were using a technology which was developed way back in 1970 and the engines used were ‘air-cooled’ ones, state documents provided by Army chief General V K Singh to the CBI.


The agency probing the Tatra-BEML deal met the Army chief on Friday during which Gen Singh is learnt to have provided important documents regarding the Tatra trucks and his complaint regarding the alleged bribe offer by a former Army officer. The meeting lasted for nearly three hours.


Gen Singh gave a detailed account of the alleged bribe offer of Rs 14 crore made by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh in September 2010.


According to sources, the engines being supplied in Tatra trucks were ‘substandard’ and instead of ‘liquid cooled engine’, they were fitted with ‘air cool engine’.


The liquid-cooled engines use a mixture of water and chemicals such as engine coolant and rust inhibitors while air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them. These engines were used between 1970 and 80 but with technological innovations, most vehicles these days use ‘liquid cooled engine’, claimed an official.


Sources said that during the meeting, the Army chief is learnt to have told the CBI that at the time when Tejinder Singh made the offer, the procurement file on Tatra trucks was lying in his office.


Officials also said during the meeting with Army Chief, it came to light that Gen Singh noticed something amiss in the Tatra deal when he saw a large number of trucks being procured by different units. He is believed to have contacted the commands whose requirement were reflected on the file and came to know that so many trucks were not required by the Army, claimed officials. The notings and movement of the Tatra file is being obtained by the CBI as it plans to examine Tejinder Singh.