AgustaWestland chopper deal scandal is now become the historical row in India as for the first time name from defence raised in graft case which would never be unfolded.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Wednesday cleared that the government would not be spared anyone if found guilty during CBI inquiry into allegations of bribery in the Rs. 3,600- crore VVIP helicopter deal.
“If we find any evidence of corruption then we will blacklist the company and even cancel the deal,” Antony told reporters.
India which has received still 3 of the 12 AgustaWestland helicopters has stayed the delivery of the nine and remaining payment of Rs 2,400 crore until the completion of a CBI probe.
Into the Italian Chopper deal scam which was struck in 2010 for Rs 3,600 crore, Italian investigating agency has house arrest the CEO of Italian defence aerospace giant Finmeccanica alleging to bagged the deal in favour of subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 choppers to India.
The Italian agency also charged, in exchange for kickbacks, Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi to gave paid bribe around 15 million Euros through Guido Haschke and Christian Michael middlemen through a trio of brothers who are his cousins.
Tyagi admitted that he had met one of the alleged middlemen but has claimed innocence, denied all allegations categorically, reasoning that the deal was signed after three years of his retirement.
