Investigating agencies overlook role of ‘Sonia advisers’ in AgustaWestland scam case
Italian investigators during the trial of VVIP chopper scam produced a note before the court in Italy that contained the names of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s seven key advisors, who were approached by middlemen to get the contract through. Interestingly, the names of those powerful persons have escaped the attention of investigative agencies in India.
Christian Michel, the UK -based consultant who was engaged by the Italian company along with another agent Guido Haschke to facilitate the VVIP chopper deal for AgustaWestland is alleged to have written the note to the head of the company to ‘target’ the close advisers of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to swing the deal. The role of Michel in the entire affair is believed to be very critical as he allegedly helped the two middlemen gain access to politicians and bureaucrats in India.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the money-laundering part under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), in the deal has confirmed to Millennium Post that names of some Sonia aides figured in Michel’s list, forwarded as note to AgustaWestland India head Peter Hulett.
The note presented in Italy Court read: “As Mrs Gandhi is the driving force behind the VIP, she will not fly any more in the Mi 8. Mrs Gandhi and her closest advisers are the people the High Commissioner should target.”
“First of all, if any piece of paper of this nature exists we are not aware of that. ED does not probe the origin of the crime. We investigate the flow of the funds and potential money laundering during the transactions,” said a senior official in ED. He further said that based on this information only CBI can initiate the action and once the agency files the case only then ED can look into the matter.
Speaking on the coordination between the two investigative agencies CBI and ED the official said that they do not share the information on day-to-day basis, and both the agencies were conducting their own separate investigations.
The note, dated 15 March 2008 was allegedly sent by Michel to Peter Hulett, the then Head of Region, government sales, at AgustaWestland’s India office, is one of the many key documents that Italian investigators seized from the office of middleman Haschke. The written correspondence has already been produced by Italian prosecutors before the court.
Speaking on the development in the case a senior ED official said: “We have already spoiled our relationship with Italian authorities in the ‘Marine’ case which is why we are proceeding very cautiously in this case. ED has secured an open non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Carlo Gerosa, Guido Haschke and Christian Michel as the interrogation of these persons was necessary to know about the quantum of proceeds of crime.”
The official, however, feels that there could be a problem in establishing the crime on the part of the company as a Milan Court in Italy has already ruled that no kickbacks were paid in the chopper deal.
“AgustaWestland has been saying that it has paid the commissions to these three persons as per company rules. Now the amounts were given to politicians and bureaucrats by three persons cannot hold company responsible for kickbacks,” said the senior official.
The chopper scam first came to light on 12 February 2013 in which several Indian politicians and Army officials have been accused of accepting bribes from AgustaWestland in order to win the Rs 36 billion Indian contract for the supply of 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters. These helicopters were intended to perform VVIP duties for the President of India and other important dignitaries.