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Govt ups ante, Oppn stares back

The war of attrition between the BJP and Congress continued on Thursday, with both sides refusing to back off.

Refuting the Congress claims that the Anglo-Italian helicopter maker AgustaWestland was blacklisted by the UPA government, it said it was the NDA, on July 3, 2014, that had actually put on hold all procurement and acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies involved in the VVIP chopper scam.

It also said that CBI and Enforcement Directorate are vigorously pursuing all aspects of the investigation, including the arrest and extradition of three alleged middlemen of the deal – Carlo Gerosa, Guido Haschke Ralph and Christian Michel James.

“Publicly available information on the procurement of AgustaWestland helicopters clearly shows that the core issue in the matter is corruption. The present government has taken effective action to bring out the truth and will leave no stone unturned in pursuing all means to bring to justice the corrupt and the wrong-doers in this case,” a statement released by the ministry said.

It said the time taken is largely because some of the key perpetrators of this “misdeed” are outside the country.

In certain quarters, questions have been raised on certain trivial technicalities, which appear to be intended to distract attention from the core issue of corruption, it said.

The ministry said that the contract for supply of 12 helicopters signed with AgustaWestland International Ltd (AWIL) on February 8, 2010 was terminated with effect from January 1, 2014.

“The main reason was breach of the provisions of the Pre-Contract Integrity Pact and breach of terms of contract by AWIL. However, the company was not debarred by the said order.

Various bonds and bank guarantees were invoked.

“It is the present government which through its order dated July 3, 2014, put on hold all procurement/acquisition cases in the pipeline of six companies figuring in the FIR registered by the CBI. No new capital procurement has been made thereafter from these companies in the tenure of the present government,” the statement said.

On the “core issue of corruption”, it said the two agencies concerned, namely CBI and Enforcement Directorate, are vigorously pursuing all aspects of the investigation, including the arrests and/or extradition of the three foreign nationals.

“Red Corner Notices were issued in December 2015 and January 2016 through Interpol under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act. Extradition request has also been made for Christian Michel James. One of the agencies (Enforcement Directorate) has arrested an Indian national and attached approximately Rs 11 crore of property belonging to Indian nationals and to Christian Michel James,” it said.

Congress had on Tuesday claimed that AgustaWestland was blacklisted by the UPA dispensation but “removed” from the blacklist by the Modi government.

UK approached for extradition of middleman Michel
India has approached the British government for extradition of Christian Michel, the middleman named by Italian investigators as a key intermediary in swinging the controversial deal for AgustaWestland choppers.

Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh told the Rajya Sabha that the matter is under consideration of the concerned British authorities.

“Yes, government of India has approached the government of the United Kingdom for extradition of Christian Michel to India in connection with the AgustaWestland helicopter scam,” he said, replying to a question.

CBI had in 2013 registered a case in connection with alleged bribes paid by the firm to Indians to clinch the deal for 12 helicopters to ferry VVIPs including the President and Prime Minister.

Congress has said that the charges against its leaders are false and baseless. It yesterday claimed AgustaWestland was blacklisted under UPA rule but “removed” from the blacklist by the Modi government. A Red Corner Notice was also issued against Michel.

CBI had named three middlemen, including Michel, among others in its FIR which was later used by the ED for filing a separate case under criminal charges of money laundering. Later, at a media briefing, MEA Spokesperson, when asked about Michel’s deportation from the UK, said, “The request has been made. We have not had a response.” 
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