Monday, February 18, 2013

Agusta Westland Chopper SCAM: CVC SEEKS REPLY FROM MINISTRY

NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission has sought a report from the defence ministry on alleged irregularities in the controversial R3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal.

The chief vigilance officer of the ministry has been asked to furnish the report on the charges of alleged corruption raised in a complaint sent to the CVC, sources in the anti-corruption watchdog said. They said the complaint alleging corruption in the deal was received by the commission and it was sent to the CVO, who acts as a distant arm of the CVC, of the ministry as per standard practice.

HASCHKE CLEANS UP HIS COMPUTER
NEW DELHI: Alleged middleman Guido Haschke had “cleaned up” all the documents from his computer related to the chopper deal in which kickbacks were allegedly involved with Italian investigators saying the details could open a “Pandora’s box”.

But to Haschke’s misfortune the documents were retrieved from his computer hard drive along with other papers he had hidden at his mother’s home. “He thought he had deleted everything, buried every track on the big business on behalf of Finmeccanica. He had ‘cleaned up’ his computer and he felt calm,” a daily said quoting the Italian investigators’ report.

PROBE TEAM TO LEAVE TODAY
NEW DELHI: An Indian team will leave for Italy Monday to meet prosecutors and other officials to gather details of bribery allegations into the helicopter deal.

The team will include CBI DIG Mahipal Yadav, joint secretary in the ministry of defence (MoD) Arun Kumar Bal and a law officer from the CBI.

“We have to seek Italian probe reports in the case from official channel duly certified by Indian embassy officials in order to use them as evidence in courts here. Services of an Italian lawyer will be at the disposal of the team to help them with local legal practices,” said a source.

THE REPORT
The IAF’s report, submitted in April 2008, found the twin-engine S-92 lacking on four counts: missile approach warning system, service ceiling of 4,500 metres, the stipulated drift down altitude and hover out of ground effect.

HT had reported on Saturday India would consider going back to Russia to acquire a new VVIP fleet to replace its ageing Mi-8 choppers.
Courtesy:
    18 Feb 2013
    Hindustan Times (Mumbai)
    Aloke Tikku atikku@hindustantimes.com
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

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