The CBI, after finding pieces of crucial information, related to the investigation of the Tatra truck deal case, has decided to make 'significant arrests'. "We have some leads on the Tatra case and we are going to make a few arrests within 10 days", they said.

They have, however, denied to diclose any information regarding the arrests that they were going to make. They even declined to reveal if Ravi Rishi, Vectra Group Chairman and V R S Natarajan, the suspended BEML officer were on the list.

CBI has conducted verification of the on-site facilities at the BEML in Banglore for the production of Tatra Vehicles after which they have found crucial evidence that affirmed the involvement of PSU's senior officials.

A few officials in the defence ministry were also examined. From the reports of the CBI, Natarajan and Rishi along with other senior officials of the BEML may be called out for questioning. In the earlier investigation they have refuted the claims that they were involved in any misconduct.

The facilities at the BEML were substandard and primitive where they “indigenized” the vehicles for the Army. However, it was clear that the indigenization was not even close to being satisfactory.

The trucks assembled and supplied by the BEML ot the army were found to breakdown at higher altitudes. Though the Army had reported the same numerous times PSU had not taken any measures and instead supplied the army with the vehicles with older technology.

During the inspection, CBI officials found "very primitive level facilities" where "so-called indigenization" of vehicles took place for supply to the Army, the sources said. They said despite the clause of indigenization and upgrade of technology in the original agreement signed with Tatra AS, the indigenization process remained way behind satisfactory levels. The vehicles supplied to the DRDO, for the missile systems through Tatra were much efficient compared to those sent to the Army.

AW - Anil