As per new twist in Rs. 3600 crore defence helicopter deal scandal, Italian Police arrested the chief of Italy’s largest Defence aerospace firm on Tuesday on graft charges.
Giuseppe Orsi, the CEO of Finmeccanica which is 30-per cent government owned, has been arrested in Milan under the charges of corruption and bribery in connection with the sale helicopter deal with the Indian government, reports said.
According to media information, Italian authorities have asked Indian Government to order a CBI investigation against Chief as part of an investigation into alleged international corruption.
The house arrest of AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini has also been ordered by Italian authorities.
Finmeccanica CEO, who was under the scrutiny of authorities, has denied all allegations as well as any wrongdoing in the 2010 deal related to the sale of AgustaWestland helicopters to India.
In 2010, a deal for sale of 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for IAF’s elite Communication Squadron had been signed by India, sources said, added that $670 million bribes have paid to Orsi.
Meanwhile, defence minister AK Antony ordered a CBI probe into the VVIP chopper deal on Tuesday on basis of information sought from governments of Italy and UK.
