Who withdrew RAW advisory against Rishi?
7 May 2012 5:00 AM GMT
India’s external intelligence agency RAW’s advisory to public sector giant ONGC not to have any business dealing with notorious arms dealer Ravi Rishi was withdrawn due to top-level interference. Incidentally, RAW directly reports to the Prime Minister’s Office. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has stumbled upon this sensational piece of information while investigating Rishi.
Way back on 25 January 2010, RAW had issued an advisory (reference number CMIA 1311) to the chairman and managing director of ONGC against Messrs Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd, a Rishi firm, which has been dealing in offshore helicopter services for the past 11 years. The advisory said, ‘There are intelligence reports about the group’s involvement with criminal syndicates, money laundering, misrepresentation and receiving unaccounted money from foreign sources having links with terrorists. And they are under investigation by this department.’
The RAW note also said ‘that this group is seeking a fresh contract from ONGC for charter hire of helicopters for offshore crew change. You are advised not to get into any contract with the said company till the investigation against the company is completed by us and a clearance report forwarded to ONGC for the same. A related case on the same charges is likely to come up for investigation by the CBI and you are advised to co-operate with all investigations accordingly.’
RAW advised ONGC to hold all further actions in the matter pending the conclusion of their investigation. ONGC stopped the contract for a day but sought 30 days from RAW for alternative arrangements for the helicopters. But, suddenly after sometime, RAW’s advisory was withdrawn and Rishi’s company continued to operate the helicopters freely.
On Saturday, the home ministry withdrew security clearance granted to Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. Rishi is under CBI investigation for his role in the recent Tatra deal controversy. He has been repeatedly questioned by the CBI into the allegation of Army chief V K Singh that Singh was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe for a Tatra deal on behalf of Rishi.
What has stumped the investigators is the fact that someone against whom there are serious charges of money laundering, bribery and association with terrorists has managed to get such an advisory thwarted. They are also looking into the allegation that one of their nine helicopters on contract with ONGC was used for election duty in the month of April and May 2009. The Bell 412 helicopters (bearing registration number VTAZM) were declared non-functional to ONGC by Global Vectra Helicorp and then secretly flown to New Delhi, from where they flew them for election duty of political parties.
It is not clear from CBI sources whether they would be able to interrogate some of the key RAW officials to find out who the people were who influenced RAW to withdraw such a sensitive advisory against a person who was under investigation for ‘money laundering, having links with terrorists’.
Rishi’s links with a former cabinet minister of the UPA government, who hails from Mumbai, as well as his close association with a public sector helicopter company’s CMD, who has recently been chosen for another defence ministry PSU, is under close scrutiny.
Way back on 25 January 2010, RAW had issued an advisory (reference number CMIA 1311) to the chairman and managing director of ONGC against Messrs Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd, a Rishi firm, which has been dealing in offshore helicopter services for the past 11 years. The advisory said, ‘There are intelligence reports about the group’s involvement with criminal syndicates, money laundering, misrepresentation and receiving unaccounted money from foreign sources having links with terrorists. And they are under investigation by this department.’
The RAW note also said ‘that this group is seeking a fresh contract from ONGC for charter hire of helicopters for offshore crew change. You are advised not to get into any contract with the said company till the investigation against the company is completed by us and a clearance report forwarded to ONGC for the same. A related case on the same charges is likely to come up for investigation by the CBI and you are advised to co-operate with all investigations accordingly.’
RAW advised ONGC to hold all further actions in the matter pending the conclusion of their investigation. ONGC stopped the contract for a day but sought 30 days from RAW for alternative arrangements for the helicopters. But, suddenly after sometime, RAW’s advisory was withdrawn and Rishi’s company continued to operate the helicopters freely.
On Saturday, the home ministry withdrew security clearance granted to Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. Rishi is under CBI investigation for his role in the recent Tatra deal controversy. He has been repeatedly questioned by the CBI into the allegation of Army chief V K Singh that Singh was offered Rs 14 crore in bribe for a Tatra deal on behalf of Rishi.
What has stumped the investigators is the fact that someone against whom there are serious charges of money laundering, bribery and association with terrorists has managed to get such an advisory thwarted. They are also looking into the allegation that one of their nine helicopters on contract with ONGC was used for election duty in the month of April and May 2009. The Bell 412 helicopters (bearing registration number VTAZM) were declared non-functional to ONGC by Global Vectra Helicorp and then secretly flown to New Delhi, from where they flew them for election duty of political parties.
It is not clear from CBI sources whether they would be able to interrogate some of the key RAW officials to find out who the people were who influenced RAW to withdraw such a sensitive advisory against a person who was under investigation for ‘money laundering, having links with terrorists’.
Rishi’s links with a former cabinet minister of the UPA government, who hails from Mumbai, as well as his close association with a public sector helicopter company’s CMD, who has recently been chosen for another defence ministry PSU, is under close scrutiny.
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