Fresh evidence surfaces in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam
As part of its investigations, the agency is focusing on money trail of a suspected 50 million euros bribe amount spread across eight countries.
In Short
- A two-member CBI team recently visited Italy.
- The visit has given a new impetus to the probe: CBI
- The case is now being probed by a SIT.
The CBI claims to have collected crucial information from key police and legal officials of Italy in its ongoing probe in the AugustaWestland VVIP Helicopter deal case. A two-member CBI team visited Italy recently and got some new information that can give fresh leads to investigators.
CBI FOCUSES ON MONEY TRAIL
As part of its investigations, the agency is focussing on money trail of a suspected 50 million euros bribe amount spread across eight countries.
When asked whether CBI has also recorded the statements of former Finmeccanica Chief Giuseppe Orsi and former CEO of Bruno Spagnolini, both convicted by an Italian court, in connection with its probe, CBI officials did not comment but said the visit has given a new impetus to the probe.
CBI'S TWO-MEMBER TEAM OBTAINED DETAILS
The case is now being probed by a SIT headed by an Additional Director of the agency. The sources, however, said the two-member team did visit Milan during which they met legal and police authorities who were probing the case in their country.
They have said all the details sought by the agency from the Italy were provided through the Letters Rogatory which was the only country among seven others which has provided complete details. The sources did not respond as to why the team visited Italy when CBI has received all the details through LR, They said the agency is focussing on the money trail of suspected kickbacks of over 50 million Euros (about Rs 369 crore at present exchange rates) believed to have been moved across eight countries.
CBI AWAITING RESPONSE FROM 8 NATIONS
CBI had sent Letters Rogatory (judicial request from an Indian court seeking investigation in a foreign entity through investigation agencies of that country) to eight countries - Italy, the UK, British Virgin Island, Tunisia, Switzerland, Singapore, the UAE and Mauritius.
While Italy had completely complied with the LR, Tunisia, British Virgin Islands, Switzerland and the UK have partly responded. CBI has sent them a reminder for furnishing the information. Mauritius, Singapore and the UAE have not responded to the request, the sources said. CBI had registered a case against former IAF Chief SP Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in connection with alleged bribery in the 2010 deal of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters for VVIPs.
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