Italian investigators probing money trail in the VVIP chopper deal kickbacks have stumbled upon the name of a suspected top Tata Steel executive. He figures in the conversation between one of the key accused middlemen and AgustaWestland officials, where they are discussing their line of defence before the prosecutors.
The name crops up in the context of a company being set up in Tunisia, with Switzerland-based middleman Guido Haschke claiming that it is a buffer company that will not directly link him to the chopper firm. An Italian investigation report, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, notes that "the link to Tunisia is important as AgustaWestland is paying Haschke's 'dues' in Tunisia".
The man is named in the conversation as "Partha" and Italian investigators have noted in the report that the reference seems to be to Partha Sengupta, vice-president of Tata Steel, who is alleged to have been in regular touch with top Agusta official Bruno Spagnolini, who is among those arrested in Italy.
Sengupta denied any association with the persons named in the report in reply to a detailed questionnaire sent by The Indian Express. "I have no knowledge or association with any of the persons you have mentioned. I have no personal or business dealings with them," he said.
While the Tatas have a joint venture with AgustaWestland to build choppers in Hyderabad, the company has denied any link with marketing, sales or representation of any product of the Italian company. They have said they do not envisage any impact on the proposed joint venture.
As per the Italian investigation report, Haschke and Spagnolini had a detailed conversation on how to hide the former's link with AgustaWestland and discussed how Partha helped set up a company in Tunisia.
Excerpts from a conversation secretly recorded by prosecutors on March 5, 2012, allegedly in the bugged Audi A 6 car belonging to Haschke:
Spagnolini: When those people there, the Indians, now I don't remember the name, Papa, Pata...
Haschke: Ah, Partha.
S: Exactly. He came in.
H: Yes.
S: In 2007-2008 to do some...
H: Exactly.
S: Some engineering work etc, etc he came...
H: Sure.
S: And when we made the contract with him, actually it was the (inconclusive word) contract, then when he, as written in the present contract, when he shifted his activities to Tunisia... Well there is a link with that man.
H: With that man, because it was them who started the company in Tunisia.
S: Yes.
As the conversation goes on, investigators conclude that "Spagnolini seems relieved by this information which does not link directly Haschke to AgustaWestland and consequently to Finmeccanica and says 'ok... perfect, this is what we wanted to clarify'."
Italian investigators also note that the last bit in the conversation that again refers to Partha concerns Haschke saying he found business for them (Tata) and not you (Agusta).
Haschke: I found business for them not you.
H: And if that man is interrogated, he will confirm it, as he knows he is telling the truth. Also because he was bothering me until six months ago so that I gave him more business.
Italian investigators also note in the report that the names of both Partha and Tata are "heard during conversations of Spagnolini and his secretary Daniela, as they — Tata — are recipients of agreements, because they may be having financial agreements".
In response to a query by The Indian Express, a Tata spokesperson said: "Indian Rotocraft Ltd is a joint venture between Tatas and AgustaWestland to manufacture AW119ke helicopters in a plant that is being establised in Hyderabad as part of the Tata aerospace thrust. The company is not involved in the marketing, sales or representation of any other AgustaWestland product."
The AW 119ke, incidentally, was competing for a contract to supply 197 choppers to the Indian Army but was thrown out during the flight trials.
"In entering the aerospace sector, the Tata Group decided it would not represent any aerospace company in India for their finished products — military or civilian. The Tatas have therefore not been involved in representing their joint venture partners for any aircraft sale to the government, any PSU or the defence forces," the statement added.
The Tatas also said Indian Rotocraft Ltd's business remit did not include any defence-related sales and it planned to export the assembled helicopters to AgustaWestland for it to sell to its customers. While the venture may sell these helicopters to the Indian domestic civil market too at a later date, it would be only for civilian usage, said the Tatas, as per the joint venture's stated intent to operate only in the civilian market.
The Tatas have also reiterated they have no connection with the VVIP helicopter deal.
Courtesy:
Manu Pubby : New Delhi, Mon Feb 18 2013, 01:20 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/middleman-talks-of-tunisia-firm-link-to-senior-tata-executive/1075744/0
The name crops up in the context of a company being set up in Tunisia, with Switzerland-based middleman Guido Haschke claiming that it is a buffer company that will not directly link him to the chopper firm. An Italian investigation report, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, notes that "the link to Tunisia is important as AgustaWestland is paying Haschke's 'dues' in Tunisia".
The man is named in the conversation as "Partha" and Italian investigators have noted in the report that the reference seems to be to Partha Sengupta, vice-president of Tata Steel, who is alleged to have been in regular touch with top Agusta official Bruno Spagnolini, who is among those arrested in Italy.
Sengupta denied any association with the persons named in the report in reply to a detailed questionnaire sent by The Indian Express. "I have no knowledge or association with any of the persons you have mentioned. I have no personal or business dealings with them," he said.
While the Tatas have a joint venture with AgustaWestland to build choppers in Hyderabad, the company has denied any link with marketing, sales or representation of any product of the Italian company. They have said they do not envisage any impact on the proposed joint venture.
As per the Italian investigation report, Haschke and Spagnolini had a detailed conversation on how to hide the former's link with AgustaWestland and discussed how Partha helped set up a company in Tunisia.
Excerpts from a conversation secretly recorded by prosecutors on March 5, 2012, allegedly in the bugged Audi A 6 car belonging to Haschke:
Spagnolini: When those people there, the Indians, now I don't remember the name, Papa, Pata...
Haschke: Ah, Partha.
S: Exactly. He came in.
H: Yes.
S: In 2007-2008 to do some...
H: Exactly.
S: Some engineering work etc, etc he came...
H: Sure.
S: And when we made the contract with him, actually it was the (inconclusive word) contract, then when he, as written in the present contract, when he shifted his activities to Tunisia... Well there is a link with that man.
H: With that man, because it was them who started the company in Tunisia.
S: Yes.
As the conversation goes on, investigators conclude that "Spagnolini seems relieved by this information which does not link directly Haschke to AgustaWestland and consequently to Finmeccanica and says 'ok... perfect, this is what we wanted to clarify'."
Italian investigators also note that the last bit in the conversation that again refers to Partha concerns Haschke saying he found business for them (Tata) and not you (Agusta).
Haschke: I found business for them not you.
H: And if that man is interrogated, he will confirm it, as he knows he is telling the truth. Also because he was bothering me until six months ago so that I gave him more business.
Italian investigators also note in the report that the names of both Partha and Tata are "heard during conversations of Spagnolini and his secretary Daniela, as they — Tata — are recipients of agreements, because they may be having financial agreements".
In response to a query by The Indian Express, a Tata spokesperson said: "Indian Rotocraft Ltd is a joint venture between Tatas and AgustaWestland to manufacture AW119ke helicopters in a plant that is being establised in Hyderabad as part of the Tata aerospace thrust. The company is not involved in the marketing, sales or representation of any other AgustaWestland product."
The AW 119ke, incidentally, was competing for a contract to supply 197 choppers to the Indian Army but was thrown out during the flight trials.
"In entering the aerospace sector, the Tata Group decided it would not represent any aerospace company in India for their finished products — military or civilian. The Tatas have therefore not been involved in representing their joint venture partners for any aircraft sale to the government, any PSU or the defence forces," the statement added.
The Tatas also said Indian Rotocraft Ltd's business remit did not include any defence-related sales and it planned to export the assembled helicopters to AgustaWestland for it to sell to its customers. While the venture may sell these helicopters to the Indian domestic civil market too at a later date, it would be only for civilian usage, said the Tatas, as per the joint venture's stated intent to operate only in the civilian market.
The Tatas have also reiterated they have no connection with the VVIP helicopter deal.
Courtesy:
Manu Pubby : New Delhi, Mon Feb 18 2013, 01:20 hrs
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/middleman-talks-of-tunisia-firm-link-to-senior-tata-executive/1075744/0
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