AgustaWestland: Chhattisgarh govt acquired copter in 2007 by paying commission, says Swaraj Abhiyan
The Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav-led outfit has alleged that barely six months after all the payments were made, two companies with Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh as director sprung up in tax haven British Virgin Islands (BVI).
Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan. PTI Photo.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 10, 2017 13:53 IST
The Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav-headed Swaraj Abhiyan has claimed that the Chhattisgarh government acquired an AgustaWestland helicopter in 2007 by paying over 30 per cent commission to a dealer, through a tendering process that led to a single vendor situation just as in the VVIP chopper deal.
They alleged that barely six months after all the payments were made, two companies -- with Raman Singh's son Abhishek Singh as director -- sprung up in tax haven British Virgin Islands (BVI).
SC OBSERVATIONS
- A certain period must be set out for approaching a PIL to the Supreme Court, what if a vigilante citizen wakes up after ten years.
- The court cannot decide whether a chief minister can buy a helicopter or not.
- Since 2006, the PILs have taken a different turn.
- We must remember that auction is not a constitutional process, unless it's about natural resources.
- Want to put the controversy over whether political parties can be approached in a PIL to rest.
- A CAG report would help determine the impact of the purchase and whether there was any impropriety.
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On behalf of Chhattisgarh government, the attorney general has told the Supreme Court the following:
- Political parties have no locus standi, claims they are motivated. He has added that the CAG and the Public Accounts Committee is already looking into the matter.
- Supreme Court will hear the matter after six weeks.
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