New Delhi: Rolls-Royce is facing a new corruption inquiry over allegations that it paid bribes to win lucrative contracts to supply Hawk trainer jet engines to an aircraft manufacturer owned by the Indian government.
According to officials, Indian defence minister A. K. Antony called in detectives from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which handles high-profile cases, after allegations of bribes were made in an anonymous letter.
The letter alleged bribes were paid to staff at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-owned aircraft manufacturer based in Bangalore, to help Rolls-Royce win deals to supply Hawk advanced jet trainers between 2007 and 2011.
A new inquiry would be a fresh blow to the world’s second largest aircraft engine maker, which is already under a Serious Fraud Office investigation into claims that it bribed officials in Indonesia, China and elsewhere.
A fortnight ago, a leading Indian businessman and major donor to the Liberal Democrats, Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu, were arrested in connection with the SFO inquiry. They also “strongly denied” all allegations.
03/03/14 Dean Nelson/Telegraph, UK
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According to officials, Indian defence minister A. K. Antony called in detectives from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which handles high-profile cases, after allegations of bribes were made in an anonymous letter.
The letter alleged bribes were paid to staff at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the state-owned aircraft manufacturer based in Bangalore, to help Rolls-Royce win deals to supply Hawk advanced jet trainers between 2007 and 2011.
A new inquiry would be a fresh blow to the world’s second largest aircraft engine maker, which is already under a Serious Fraud Office investigation into claims that it bribed officials in Indonesia, China and elsewhere.
A fortnight ago, a leading Indian businessman and major donor to the Liberal Democrats, Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu, were arrested in connection with the SFO inquiry. They also “strongly denied” all allegations.
03/03/14 Dean Nelson/Telegraph, UK
