Deal to procure VVIP choppers for IAF under scanner

[aanshu001]

The deal to procure 12 VVIP choppers for the IAF is under scanner as an American-Italian person is being investigated for allegedly paying kickbacks for securing the deal for Agusta Westland.

American-Italian citizen Guido Ralph Haschke was arrested two days back in Switzerland in connection with an Italian investigation into the allegations but was released on bail yesterday, media reports said.

India had signed a deal with Agusta Westland in 2010 for 560 million Euro to supply 12 AW 101 choppers and deliveries are scheduled to begin in the early part of 2013.

Meanwhile, taking note of the reports, Defence Minister A K Antony has asked ministry officials to get in touch with Italian authorities to get details of their ongoing investigations into the case, Defence Ministry officials said.



The ministry had earlier asked the Indian Ambassador in Rome to submit a report on Italian investigations after the matter first came up in the media there.

However, the External Affairs Ministry has now asked the Defence Ministry to directly get in touch with the Italian government in view of the “technical nature” of the case, they said.

Asked if the Defence Ministry was planning to scrap the deal, they said it would be “too premature” as there was no official report in this regard.

Questions over probity in the deal were first raised in April in the Italian media after which India had asked its embassy there to keep a tab on the developments in the case.

In April, Italian prosecutors went to Switzerland to collect evidence and verify money flows through Swiss accounts.

The main Italian probe has targeted Finmeccanica chairman and chief executive Giuseppe Orsi.

The investigation was reportedly triggered by allegations of an ex-Finmeccanica employee, himself under investigation.

India signed deal in 2010 to procure these triple-engine choppers for ferrying VVIPs and they are scheduled to replace the Russian-origin Mi-8 helicopters.

link: Deal to procure VVIP choppers for IAF under scanner | idrw.org

 

[kurup]

VVIP helicopter deal: India seeks details from UK; 'strong action' in case of foul play, says Antony

New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony today said India has sought details from the United Kingdom in connection with corruption allegations in the VVIP helicopter deal with Italy and "strong action" would be taken in case any foul play is detected in the procurement process.

"The contract is with a particular company based in the UK. We have also requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take up the case with UK. We are making all efforts to find the truth in media reports," he said, when asked about the progress in the case.

The minister was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an awards ceremony.
Mr Antony said the government was making "serious and sincere" efforts to find out the truth in the allegations levelled in the media.

"We have already written to the Italian government through the MEA about the media reports to get the details whether any middlemen are involved or any Indian entities are involved as this is not permitted in our laws," he said.

The minister said the Italian Ambassador to India has also been conveyed the "seriousness" with which New Delhi is taking the issue and has been asked to provide details at the earliest.

"If there is any iota of truth in media reports, if there is any foul play or mischief, we will take strong action," Mr Antony said.

The allegations surfaced recently when media reports suggested that two people have been arrested in Switzerland for allegedly paying kickbacks to secure the 560-million-euros deal for 12 AW-101 helicopters.

Asked if a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be ordered into these allegations, Mr Antony said, "First let us get facts and details from the UK and Italy and then we can see what can be done."

On reports suggesting that his predecessor had changed the qualitative requirements of the VVIP chopper deal, Mr Antony said the staff requirements for procurement of equipment are prepared by the Services headquarters.

Asked about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the minister said violence levels have come down but increasing infiltration attempts is a "matter of concern".

"Attempts of infiltrations are not reducing but increasing and that is a matter of concern. That is why I said that we cannot take a decision on AFSPA in a hasty manner," the Defence Minister stated.

A few days back, Mr Antony had said violence levels in the terrorism-affected state have come down but the infiltration levels were on a rise.

To a query on Siachen, the Defence Minister said, "Our stand on the issue is very clear. There is no change in it and we are not for its (Siachen's) demilitarisation."

The minister was asked if the government was considering the recommendations of a group to remove the armed forces from the world's highest battlefield.

VVIP helicopter deal: India seeks details from UK; 'strong action' in case of foul play, says Antony | NDTV.com

 

[Abingdonboy]

Gut feeling- this deal will go through, orders were set to being within weeks.