Thirty-three months after the CBI began a probe into the `3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal, the agency has got its first major breakthrough from a foreign country , with Italy sharing important evidence that “will help establish the money trail“.
The CBI had approached several countries, including Italy , Tunisia, Mauritius, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, the UK, Switzerland and the UAE, through letters rogatory (LRs, legal requests for assistance in probe) to gather evidence against Indian officials, but they didn't extend any help till now . It was being speculated that the AgustaWestland probe might be closed just like the investigations into other defence scandals, namely Bofors, Denel arms case, Barak missile, Tatra trucks and Coffingate.
Italy sent a CD two months ago which reportedly has details about several companies, Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi and former AgustaWestland head Spagnolini Bruno, bank transactions and other documents. CBI officers are translating the contents of the CD, which are in Italian. “It's an important development as the investigation was stuck due to Italy's non-cooperation for two-and-a-half years,“ said an officer.
The development comes as the Interpol is set to issue a Red Corner notice (RCN), most likely by next week, against European middleman Christian Michel at the agency's request. Michel allegedly paid bribes to Indian officials for securing the deal of 12 VVIP choppers in favour of Anglo-Italian company AgustaWes tland. CBI alleges that Indian officials were paid `362 crore in bribes to swing the deal in favour of the Anglo-Italian firm. The deal was signed for 12 AgustaW estland AW101 helicopters in February 2010 for the communication squadron of IAF to carry the President, the PM and other VVIPs.
The agency claimed that during the tenure of S P Tyagi, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters“ with his approval, which allowed UK-based AgustaWestland win the contract. After Italian prosecutors found irregularities there, the CBI enquiry discovered that bribes were paid through a complex web of companies and middlemen based in Italy, the UK, Tunisia, Mauritius, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, Switzerland and the UAE.All these countries were approached seeking details of in vestments made from proceeds of crime and documents related to companies suspected to be used for routing bribe money , and their bank transactions.
