The central bureau of investigation (CBI) questioned the former Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) chairman and managing director (CMD), TVS Shastri, at the agency headquarters in the national capital, for the first time in the Tatra deal on Friday.

During the course of questioning, Shastri revealed that an agreement with Tatra was already in existence since 1987 for the “transfer of technology” with the Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). Shastri accused that present CMD VRS Natrajan concealed this information and mislead the BEML to sign the transfer of technology agreement again in 2003.

Shastri also said that Tatra Sipox, UK, had not provided the “excel technology” to BEML as promised in the original agreement.

The probe agency is likely to send letter rogatory to UK to get some information related to the Tatra Sipox UK-BEML deal. Following which, the agency is likely to tighten noose around Vectra owner Ravinder Rishi and present BEML chairman and managing director VRS Natrajan in the Tatra trucks procurement scam.

The investigating agency has so far questioned Ravinder Rishi, VRS Natrajan, PC Das (retired brigadier), Anil Dutta (retired colonel) and Anil Mansa Ramani (Vectra executive), in connection with the controversial deal.