Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Agusta Westland Chopper SCAM: CBI starts probe into 3,600-cr VVIP helicopter scandal

New Delhi: The CBI on Wednesday received a formal complaint from the government in the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP helicopter scandal and some documents including primary reports, letters and clippings of Italian media stories. Sources said the agency is likely to register a preliminary enquiry (PE) on Thursday.

The CBI has asked the defence ministry to provide all relevant documents of the deal, mode of payment and list of people in IAF and the ministry who handled the deal.

After registering the inquiry, the CBI will send a ‘source query’ to Italy seeking investigating report, interrogation report of Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi and details of the company.

The agency has approached the Indian mission in Italy to provide documents related to the investigation which is in public domain in case they do not succeed in procuring material through official channels, sources said.

The sources added that the CBI is trying to get the report filed by public prosecutor Eugenio Fusco on the basis of which Orsi was arrested as it could help in zeroing in on Indians who could have been alleged beneficiaries of the bribes.

In February 2010, India had inked the Rs 3,600-crore deal to acquire 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for IAF’s elite communication squadron, which ferries the President, PM and other VVIPs. The deal came under the scanner of Italian agencies after allegations of kickbacks surfaced.

It is alleged that Orsi, who was CEO of the company when the deal was struck, was involved in giving bribes. Around Rs 362 crore, about 10% of the deal, were allegedly given as bribes to ensure that the company clinched the contract.
COURTESY:
Neeraj Chauhan TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2013/02/14&PageLabel=13&EntityId=Ar01303&ViewMode=HTML

No comments:

Post a Comment