New Delhi: The defence ministry has put the proposed acquisition of 197 light utility helicopters in cold storage in the wake of explosive bribery allegations in the VVIP chopper contract, even as the Army is yet to find any tangible evidence against a brigadier named in the ongoing Italian probe.
The long procurement sagas behind the inking of the Rs 3,546-crore contract for 12 VVIP helicopters in February 2010 and the long-delayed Rs 3,000-crore project for 197 light helicopters have several similarities — from "tweaking of technical parameters" to allegations of corruption.
The two also interestingly intersected when Italian investigators, probing the 51 million euros bribes paid to swing the 556 million euros VVIP chopper contract in AgustaWestland's favour, seized a document that showed a "Brigadier Saini" allegedly demanded over $5 million to favour the company in the 197-helicopter deal as well.
19/02/13 Times of India
