New Delhi: The Indian defence ministry Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the $750 million deal for 12 VVIP AugustaWestland helicopters following arrest of its Italian manufacturer Finmeccanica's chief on graft charges in the contract.
This is not the first time that the allegations have surfaced and ironically enough, three of the helicopters have already been delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the first of them in December 2010.
Some 30 percent of the contracted amount has already been paid and the remaining would have to paid as and when the remaining nine machines are delivered, as of now, no wrongdoing has been proved, said informed sources.
In fact, a scale model of the helicopter had formed part of the IAF tableaux during the Jan 26 Republic Day parade. Explaining the rationale for the CBI probe, a defence ministry statement said: "Press reports have appeared from time to time on the subject of Italian prosecutors having initiated a probe into the alleged unethical dealings of M/s. Finmeccanica, Italy.
12/02/13 IANS/Deccan Herald
