AgustaWestland Case: British nationwide Christian Michel was extradited to India in December 2018 (File)
New Delhi:
The CBI has filed a supplementary chargesheet within the AgustaWestland case that names 15 people together with intermediary Christian Michel – a British nationwide extradited to India from Dubai in December 2018 and at the moment lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Former CAG Shashi Kant Sharma has not been named on this chargesheet because the CBI has not but acquired sanction from the Defence Ministry to prosecute him. Company sources mentioned final week that permission had been sought to prosecute Mr Sharma and former Air Vice Marshal Jasbir Singh Panesar.
The supplementary chargesheet focuses on the position of Christian Michel and particulars how he influenced bureaucrats to make sure the contract was awarded to AgustaWestland.
It additionally particulars how he acquired and transferred the alleged kickbacks to authorities officers with assist from Rajiv Saxena – a Dubai-based businessman extradited to India in January final yr.
The CBI has collected a lot of paperwork and key items of proof from 5 nations via Letters Rogatory. These nations are the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Italy and Tunisia.
The alleged position of politicians isn’t handled on this chargesheet, sources inside the company mentioned.
The Agusta Westland case includes a Rs three,600 crore contract for the acquisition of 12 luxurious helicopters for use by prime Indian leaders just like the President, the Prime Minister and different VIPs.
Signed in 2007 by the Manmohan Singh authorities, the contract was scrapped six years later amid allegations AgustaWestland paid kickbacks in India amounting to Rs 362 crore.
Mr Sharma, who was Joint Secretary (Air) within the Defence Ministry between 2003-2007, initiated the acquisition of the helicopters in that position. He accepted the acquisition in 2010 as Director Basic (Defence Acquisition).
Others concerned within the case embody Christian Michel, one in every of three middlemen within the deal, together with Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.
A Particular Investigation Crew of the CBI took over this case in 2016 and filed its first chargesheet towards SP Tyagi, a former Air Chief Marshal charged with taking bribes to change chopper specs, and 11 others in September 2017.
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