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CBI quizzes two arms dealers in defence deals
NEW DELHI, FEB 9 (PTI)
The CBI today questioned two arms dealers -- Vipin Khanna and Suresh Nanda -- in connection with its probe into alleged malpractices in various defence deals one of which has former Defence Minister George Fernandes as an accused.
Two two arms dealers, who were summoned to the CBI headquarters, appeared before the sleuths of Anti-Corruption unit of the investigating agency where they were asked about their roles in South African state-owned company Denel arms deal and Barak missile deal, official sources said.
The residences and official premises of Khanna, kin of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, and Nanda, son of former Naval Admiral S M Nanda, were raided as also those of other defence agents by the CBI in October last year during a nationwide raid.
It was not imemdiately clear what Khanna and Nanda told CBI during their separate questioning for nearly two hours.
The questioning of Khanna was done for his allegedly receiving huge remittances from two Israeli armaments companies to a firm owned by his son and Congress MLA Arvind Khanna and the defence deals brokered by him with a neighbouring country (Pakistan), the sources said.
They said Vipin's role was examined for anti-material rifles from Denel, a deal in which the CBI has claimed that kickbacks were allegedly received by him.
Initial findings about the alleged receipt of kickbacks by the Khannas had come to the CBI in April last year after Varas Associates, based in the Isle of Man, responsed to Letters Rogatory and gave details of remittances allegedly made to Khanna by Denel, the sources said.
The CBI had sent Letters Rogatory to South Africa, Hong Kong and Britain, seeking details of financial transations involving Denel and Varas Associates.
In connection with the anti-material rifle deal, a case had been registered against defence ministry officials, Denel and its officials, Varas Associates and its officials and others in connection with alleged payment of a 12.75 percent commission for contracts to supply the bunker-buster rifles.
The CBI alleges Denel had paid Varas Associates 24,08,373 dollars and 10,99,672 dollars on January 27, 2003 and 1,51,350 dollars on June 19 the same year.
Nanda was questioned for his alleged role in the purchase of Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) as the CBI alleged he had approached former Samata Party Tresurer R K Jain to stop the contract going in favour of PSP Bohemia of Czech Republic whose bid for 87 ARVs was the lowest at Rs 247.75 crore.
The probe showed Nanda represented Unimpex which itself was not an manufacturer of the ARV but an agent of ZTS Martin firm of Czechoslovakia.
Nanda allegedly received huge funds from Unimpex through various companies and the same were used by him for acquisition of assets in the name of his family members and companies, the CBI alleged adding that in the process a loss of Rs 51.83 crore was caused to the exchequer.
During searches carried out in October last year, the CBI had seized unaccounted cash of Rs 62.5 lakh from the office of Nanda.
www.outlookindia.com
NEW DELHI, FEB 9 (PTI)
The CBI today questioned two arms dealers -- Vipin Khanna and Suresh Nanda -- in connection with its probe into alleged malpractices in various defence deals one of which has former Defence Minister George Fernandes as an accused.
Two two arms dealers, who were summoned to the CBI headquarters, appeared before the sleuths of Anti-Corruption unit of the investigating agency where they were asked about their roles in South African state-owned company Denel arms deal and Barak missile deal, official sources said.
The residences and official premises of Khanna, kin of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, and Nanda, son of former Naval Admiral S M Nanda, were raided as also those of other defence agents by the CBI in October last year during a nationwide raid.
It was not imemdiately clear what Khanna and Nanda told CBI during their separate questioning for nearly two hours.
The questioning of Khanna was done for his allegedly receiving huge remittances from two Israeli armaments companies to a firm owned by his son and Congress MLA Arvind Khanna and the defence deals brokered by him with a neighbouring country (Pakistan), the sources said.
They said Vipin's role was examined for anti-material rifles from Denel, a deal in which the CBI has claimed that kickbacks were allegedly received by him.
Initial findings about the alleged receipt of kickbacks by the Khannas had come to the CBI in April last year after Varas Associates, based in the Isle of Man, responsed to Letters Rogatory and gave details of remittances allegedly made to Khanna by Denel, the sources said.
The CBI had sent Letters Rogatory to South Africa, Hong Kong and Britain, seeking details of financial transations involving Denel and Varas Associates.
In connection with the anti-material rifle deal, a case had been registered against defence ministry officials, Denel and its officials, Varas Associates and its officials and others in connection with alleged payment of a 12.75 percent commission for contracts to supply the bunker-buster rifles.
The CBI alleges Denel had paid Varas Associates 24,08,373 dollars and 10,99,672 dollars on January 27, 2003 and 1,51,350 dollars on June 19 the same year.
Nanda was questioned for his alleged role in the purchase of Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) as the CBI alleged he had approached former Samata Party Tresurer R K Jain to stop the contract going in favour of PSP Bohemia of Czech Republic whose bid for 87 ARVs was the lowest at Rs 247.75 crore.
The probe showed Nanda represented Unimpex which itself was not an manufacturer of the ARV but an agent of ZTS Martin firm of Czechoslovakia.
Nanda allegedly received huge funds from Unimpex through various companies and the same were used by him for acquisition of assets in the name of his family members and companies, the CBI alleged adding that in the process a loss of Rs 51.83 crore was caused to the exchequer.
During searches carried out in October last year, the CBI had seized unaccounted cash of Rs 62.5 lakh from the office of Nanda.
www.outlookindia.com
