Investigation into chopper deal on at 'many levels': Salman Khurshid

New Delhi: Holding that investigation into the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP helicopter deal was on at "many levels", India on Monday said Letters Rogatory is the "best and strongest method" available to it for seeking details from Italian courts on the case. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid also said a CBI team from New Delhi has gone to Milan in Italy to get material and details about the case.

"Our courts have to issue them and they have to be addressed by Italian courts. But it (Letters Rogatory) is the best and strongest method available to us and hope that will work," he said.

He was responding to a question on whether Letters Rogatory would be the best way to get details from Italian authorities after a court in Milan had last week refused to share any details with India on the case.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid also said a CBI team from New Delhi has gone to Milan in Italy to get material and details about the case.

A Letters Rogatory or letter of request is a formal request from a court to a foreign court for some type of judicial assistance. Khurshid said the Indian Government has not been able to get "concrete materials" from Italian authorities.

"We are not able to get concrete materials from Italians. So far whatever they have done, we have reacted and responded. But up to this point they have not indicated anything. They are unable to share with us anything," he said. The Minister said it was little premature to get to any conclusion on the issue as the CBI team from India is there to get details.

"Our team is there to gather information and materials which can be analysed when they come," he said.

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