Chennai: Stung by the sting carried out by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) alleging the Hinduja brothers have violated UK's `The Trade in Controlled Goods (Embargoed Destinations) Order 2004' by agreeing to export trucks to Sudan, the Chennai company has issued a statement saying that their off-the highway vehicles were meant to transport passengers and goods.

The Hinduja-controlled Rs 4,182 crore turnover Indian truck manufacturer Ashok Leyland Limited has clarified that the Sudanese agreement for Stallion 4x4 trucks was for the carriage of goods and passengers in off road condition.

According to Ashok Leyland, on February 12^th, 2005, the company signed a co-operation agreement with GIAD for Automotive Industry Co (GIAD), a company registered under the Sudanese Companies Act, 1925. As per the agreement GIAD would import Ashok Leyland trucks / buses in semi knocked down condition to be assembled in Sudan.

The Indian company claims that the agreement is for vehicles assembled for sales to the public and private sectors and neighbouring countries. The vehicles covered by the agreement are Falcon large buses, Eagle mini buses and Stallion 4x4 trucks. Ashok Leyland further states that GIAD had confirmed that the assembled vehicles were intended for civilian passenger transport and humanitarian purposes.

As per the company's website, the Stallion 4x4 trucks are defence vehicles. The company manufacturers two Stallion models Stallion 4x4 Mk III and Stallion 4x4 Mk IV.

The company in its statement said, "….this agreement with GIAD was not divulged to the company's Board of Directors because AL (Ashok Leyland) board processes do not deal with specific country-wise operational details of the company's export function. The company can also confirm that the Hinduja Brothers, who are not on the board of the company, have had no role in securing this agreement either directly or indirectly."

Incidentally, GIAD did not open a letter of credit within the stipulated time and therefore the agreement has not become operational and no transactions have been made, says a company spokesman.

Perhaps taking a cue from this deal, sometime in May this year, three BBC reporters under the guise of an American priest, an Irish security consultant and a Manchestar-based procurement consultant contacted Ashok Leyland's executive on behalf of an unnamed aid agency to source 20 Stallion 4x4 trucks to be used in Sudan. This order was valued at around $750,000.

The meeting between the Leyland executive and the three 'representatives' was held in a London hotel.

According to the report, the undercover reporters also discussed the deal with the company's vice chairman, Dheeraj Hinduja, son of GP Hinduja. According to reports, in June the truck company confirmed the order to the fake consultants. The company also said that the trucks were be painted white as they were to be used for humanitarian purpose.

Subsequently, when BBC got in touch with the Hinduja brothers for their comment, the latter realised that they had been conned. The BBC is yet to air its programme. The Hindujas now intend to sue BBC for tarring their image.