The Defence Acquisition Council is expected to approve changes to procurement rules on Tuesday and sources said the new rules will give domestic industry, both public and private, the right of "first refusal" before the import option is exercised. ...
01:48 PM, Apr 02, 2013
A CBI report states that Former Air Chief Marshal (retd) SP Tyagi received cash in return for favouring Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland in the controversial Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal. The report, however, fails to mention the amount that was paid to the retired Air Chief Marshal and the mode of payment. The report also adds that Tyagi's cousins received nearly 3,26,000 euros during the course of the deal. ...
11:46 PM, Apr 01, 2013
AgustaWestland, which is surrounded by controversies over the VVIP chopper deal, is appointing a former British Government employee Jackie Callicut as its India head, a post which was vacant for over a year. Callicut has also served in India in her capacity as a British Government employee and has also dealt with Defence Ministry operations in her country, officials said on Monday. ...
10:46 PM, Apr 01, 2013
Former Air Chief Marshal (retd) SP Tyagi received cash in return for favouring Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland in the controversial Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, the report by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a copy of which is with CNN-IBN, states. The report, however, fails to mention the amount that was paid to the retired chief marshal and the mode of payment. The report also adds that Tyagi's cousins...
06:10 PM, Apr 01, 2013
After the AgustaWestland scandal, the Defence Ministry is planning to tweak its procurement procedures. But insiders claim these changes are unnecessary and misplaced and reflect a knee jerk reaction from the government. South Block is abuzz with reports of an imminent change in the defence procurement procedures. ...
10:28 AM, Mar 26, 2013
The Omar government had asked Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to order an NIA probe into Liaqat Shah's case for a 'speedy' investigation. ...
09:58 PM, Mar 25, 2013
Defence Minister AK Antony has admitted there was corruption in the AugustaWestland chopper deal. Speaking in Kochi, the Defence Minister did not name those involved. But he said those involved in the corruption will be brought to book. ...
12:14 PM, Mar 25, 2013
Defence Ministry's move to have 'life cycle cost' clause in tenders for military hardware, including in one for the 126 Multi-Role Medium Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), has come in for questioning from BJP which fears this could be misused for corruption. ...
05:33 PM, Mar 24, 2013
Italian prosecutors have asked for extradition of Swiss resident Guido Haschke who allegedly allege acted as an intermediary for bribes paid to Indian officials to win the 560 million-euro contract for 12 helicopters. ...
01:25 PM, Mar 23, 2013
Changes in the tender clauses led to Adani Group gaining and the Chhattisgarh government losing Rs.1,549 crore in a coal mining deal, said Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in a report on Friday. The CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2012, was tabled in the state assembly, the last day of the 32-day budget session. ...
05:42 AM, Mar 23, 2013
The Defence Ministry has got the 'contract' between AgustaWestland and alleged middleman Christian Michel regarding the controversial VVIP helicopter Rs 3600 crore deal with India. The 'contract' has been provided by the Anglo-Italian firm to suggest that there was no wrongdoing in the deal, sources told PTI. ...
09:59 PM, Mar 21, 2013
Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland on Tuesday replied to Defence Ministry queries, denying any wrongdoing. The Ministry had asked the firm to provide details about its transactions with Tunisia and India-based firms IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix. ...
11:20 PM, Mar 19, 2013
Defence Minister AK Antony is leaning toward barring Anglo-Italian helicopter firm AgustaWestland from doing business in the country because of a corruption scandal, but he could be outvoted by cabinet colleagues, several government sources said. ...
05:21 AM, Mar 18, 2013
The Central Bureau of Investigation has booked Airbus along with seven officials of erstwhile Indian Airlines for alleged irregularities in over Rs 8,000-crore deal for supplying 43 aircraft to the erstwhile carrier in 2005. CBI sources said the agency has booked French company Airbus Industries and seven officials which held senior positions in the Indian Airlines, which was later merged with the Air India. ...
08:45 PM, Mar 17, 2013
CBI has issued look-out notices for former IAF Chief SP Tyagi, his three cousins and five other Indians who have been named in its FIR in the alleged kickbacks received by them in Rs 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal. CBI sources said a look-out notice has been issued to prevent them from leaving the country from any airport. ...
07:49 PM, Mar 17, 2013
Facing the threat of cancellation of its helicopter deal, AgustaWestland has claimed that there was no wrongdoing in its links with the two software firms, which were allegedly used to pay kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore chopper contract. The Anglo-Italian firm has written to the Defence Ministry, and attached along with a report of an auditor to support its claim. ...
08:20 PM, Mar 15, 2013
As the standoff between Italy and India over the marines issue continues, questions are being raised whether the strain in ties will affect the CBI probe into the AgustaWestland chopper deal. On Friday, India stopped its new ambassador to Italy from taking charge over the marines issue. However, sources said that this may not impact the CBI probe into the chopper deal as long as certain Indian officials are present...
06:33 PM, Mar 15, 2013
Italian firm AgustaWestland has got extension of deadline by seven days from Defence Ministry to explain its links with the software companies that were allegedly used to pay kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal. The Ministry had asked the firm last week to provide details about its transactions with Tunisia and India-based firms IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix. ...
09:02 PM, Mar 14, 2013
In a new twist in the AgustaWestland chopper deal probe, top government officials have questioned the credibility of the investigations being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They say that the CBI is merely focusing on former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi and his cousins, when it should be going after all the government officials who were involved in facilitating the contract. ...
05:13 PM, Mar 14, 2013
Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi helped in swinging the VVIP chopper deal in favour of Finmeccanica subsidiary AgustaWestland by lowering the service height from 6000 metres to 4,500 metres, the CBI's FIR states. The FIR, however, doesn't mention Tyagi having received money in the deal. ...
05:19 PM, Mar 13, 2013
