SC seeks Centre’s response on AgustaWestland chopper purchase by Chhattisgarh

The bench was initially reluctant to entertain the PIL since the helicopters were purchased in 2007, but Bhushan argued that a matter of public interest could not be brushed aside only on the ground of delay. “We have got this information under the RTI now. How do you collect the information when those who have to disclose it are sitting in the same offices and control everything? The petition makes it crystal clear that commissions were paid illegally in purchase of these helicopters,” he contended.

Bhushan added that it was not a coincidence that Raman Singh’s son had allegedly opened bank accounts in tax havens of British Virgin Islands around the time the choppers were bought by the state. The court, however, said that before issuing notices in the case, it would want to seek a preliminary reply from Centre since the CBI was already probing similar cases relating to AgustaWestland.