new Delhi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against a total of five accused, including former Defense Secretary Shashikant Sharma and four Indian Air Force personnel, in the alleged corruption case related to the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.
Sharma was the Defense Secretary between 2011 and 2013 before being appointed the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Air Force personnel include Air Vice Marshal Jasbir Singh Panesar (Retd), former Deputy Chief Test Pilot S. a. Kunte, Wing Commander Thomas Mathew (Retd) and Group Captain N. Santosh (Retd.)
The case pertains to the purchase of 12 AgustaWestland helicopters made by Italian defense manufacturer Finmeccanica for VVIPs at an estimated cost of Rs 3,600 crore. The deal was cleared by the then UPA government in 2010, in which bribes were allegedly given to middlemen and others.
On 1 January 2014, the Government of India terminated the contract with Finmeccanica’s British subsidiary AgustaWestland for the supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters to the Indian Air Force, alleging breach of contractual obligations and paying a bribe of Rs 423 crore. was cancelled.
On September 19, 2020, the CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet in connection with the scam against 15 accused including alleged middleman and British national Christian Michel and accused Rajiv Saxena.
The CBI had earlier in this case on September 1, 2017, the then Air Force Chief S. Chargesheet was filed against P. Tyagi and 11 other accused.
—AnyTV News
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