CBI asks MHA to send letter rogatories to concerned countries
2 Jun 2013 5:30 AM IST
The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) has forwarded a request to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding sending of letter rogatories to four countries in connection with the chopper scam. Sources said that the LR draft was approved by the CBI director last week after which the request was sent to the ministry.
The four countries to whom LR’s are be sent are Italy, Mauritius, Tunisia and United Kingdom.
Sources in the CBI said that the process was delayed as the agency received some files from ministries late. 'We were planning to send LR's much before but due to delayed responses from ministries it took more time,' the sources stated, adding that, 'We are hopeful of receiving some crucial information from these countries as far as our probe is concerned.'
The scam was unearthed in February following the arrest of the then head of an Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland, with which a Rs. 3,600 crore contract for the supply of 12 AW-101 helicopters was struck three years ago. It is alleged that Rs. 362 crore in bribe was paid, of which Rs. 140 crore went into the pockets of middlemen, to bag the VVIP helicopter deal.
Former Air Chief SP Tyagi has been named as an accused in the case. Besides, four companies – Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix are also facing probe.
The report submitted by Italian investigators shows that two Italian middlemen Hashcke Guido and Gerosa Carlo allegedly received commissions worth crores from Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland for swinging the VVIP helicopter deal in favour of the company. A substantial portion of this money was allegedly routed to Indian companies – IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix – camouflaged as payments for some engineering contracts from Tunisia and Mauritius.
The report also says Hashcke and Gerosa were managing Aeromatrix. The money trail given by Italian authorities alleged that reported bribe money was paid to Tunisian firm which was managed by Haschke and Gerosa. The money was further routed from Tunisia to India and Mauritius allegedly in favour of Aeromatrix.
The four countries to whom LR’s are be sent are Italy, Mauritius, Tunisia and United Kingdom.
Sources in the CBI said that the process was delayed as the agency received some files from ministries late. 'We were planning to send LR's much before but due to delayed responses from ministries it took more time,' the sources stated, adding that, 'We are hopeful of receiving some crucial information from these countries as far as our probe is concerned.'
The scam was unearthed in February following the arrest of the then head of an Anglo-Italian firm Agusta Westland, with which a Rs. 3,600 crore contract for the supply of 12 AW-101 helicopters was struck three years ago. It is alleged that Rs. 362 crore in bribe was paid, of which Rs. 140 crore went into the pockets of middlemen, to bag the VVIP helicopter deal.
Former Air Chief SP Tyagi has been named as an accused in the case. Besides, four companies – Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix are also facing probe.
The report submitted by Italian investigators shows that two Italian middlemen Hashcke Guido and Gerosa Carlo allegedly received commissions worth crores from Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland for swinging the VVIP helicopter deal in favour of the company. A substantial portion of this money was allegedly routed to Indian companies – IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix – camouflaged as payments for some engineering contracts from Tunisia and Mauritius.
The report also says Hashcke and Gerosa were managing Aeromatrix. The money trail given by Italian authorities alleged that reported bribe money was paid to Tunisian firm which was managed by Haschke and Gerosa. The money was further routed from Tunisia to India and Mauritius allegedly in favour of Aeromatrix.
Next Story
