The tainted chopper deal worth Rs 3600 crore with Italy's AgustaWestland has raised a lot of questions. On Wednesday, sources said that the government had decided put the deal on hold even as Opposition demanded that the deal be scrapped. ...
08:01 PM, Feb 13, 2013
The government has put on hold the AgustaWestland helicopter deal, sources said on Wednesday. The move came even as the government, under fire over allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, announced a CBI probe. "Nobody will be spared whatever may be the consequences," Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters on the alleged scam. ...
07:43 PM, Feb 13, 2013
Under fire over allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, the government on Wednesday asserted that nobody found guilty will be spared and if wrongdoings were found by the CBI, the contract can be scrapped. "Nobody will be spared whatever may be the consequences," Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters on the alleged Italian chopper scam. ...
06:59 PM, Feb 13, 2013
Describing the Italian chopper deal as one having the "makings of a second Bofors scam", BJP on Wednesday asked the government as to how long it will "protect" bribe-takers and said it will raise the issue strongly during the Budget Session of Parliament. The main opposition also demanded that the helicopter deal should be reviewed and the supply of the remaining nine choppers be stopped till all doubts are cleared....
05:04 PM, Feb 13, 2013
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will soon begin its probe into the alleged payment of Rs 362 crore bribe in India by an Italian defence firm AgustaWestland to clear a Rs 3,546 crore helicopter deal for ferrying VVIPs. The agency on Wednesday received a complaint from the Defence Ministry seeking a probe in the alleged kickback given in the procurement of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica's subsidiary AgustaWestland, CBI sources...
02:41 PM, Feb 13, 2013
Under fire over allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, government today asserted that nobody found guilty will be spared and if wrongdoings were found by the CBI, the contract can be scrapped. "Nobody will be spared whatever may be the consequences," Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters on the alleged Italian chopper scam. ...
11:55 AM, Feb 13, 2013
Former Air Chief Marshal Sashi P Tyagi, who is facing corruption allegations in the Rs 3,546 crore chopper deal with Italy's AgustaWestland, on Wednesday denied having any involvement in the case and said changes in the helicopter tender were made before his tenure started. He, however, said he is ready for an inquiry into the bribery case that led on Tuesday to the arrest of Giuseppe Orsi, CEO of Finmeccanica,...
11:11 AM, Feb 13, 2013
The Defence Ministry on Wednesday talked tough over the corruption allegations in the 2010 Italian helicopter deal. Defence Minister AK Antony said the government has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation enquiry and that nobody will be spared. ...
10:25 AM, Feb 13, 2013
A day after the Italian police arrested defence major Finmeccanica's CEO Giuseppe Orsi in an ongoing corruption inquiry, there are more details emerging. Reuters now reports that three cousins of former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi allegedly helped twist rules in a helicopter tender won by AgustaWestland. ...
09:04 AM, Feb 13, 2013
A day after the Italian police arrested defence company Finmeccanica's CEO Giuseppe Orsi in an ongoing corruption inquiry, there are more details emerging. Reuters now reports that three cousins of former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi allegedly helped twist rules in a helicopter tender won by AgustaWestland. ...
08:05 AM, Feb 13, 2013
In a big development in Italy that may have huge repercussions in India, the head of Italian defence group Finmeccanica, the owners of AgustaWestland, has been arrested over ongoing corruption investigations into his group. ...
06:38 PM, Feb 12, 2013
The Defence Ministry on Tuesday referred the Augusta Westland bribery allegations case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The development came after the Italian police arrested the head of Italian government-controlled defence group Finmeccanica SpA on February 12. ...
05:07 PM, Feb 12, 2013
Italian police arrested the head of Italian state-controlled defence group Finmeccanica SpA on February 12 in a corruption probe centred on the sale of helicopters to the Indian government, a judicial source said. Finmeccanica Chief Executive and Chairman Giuseppe Orsi was arrested for alleged bribes paid to secure the sale of 12 AgustaWestland executive aircraft when he was head of the Finmeccanica helicopter unit, the source said. ...
03:20 PM, Feb 12, 2013
New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council is set to meet on Monday where a decision is expected on replacing the military's ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters of the Indian Air Force. The meet comes amidst allegations of bribery which threaten to torpedo the VVIP helicopter deal. Italian defence major Finmeccanica stands to lose thousands of crores in Indian orders if it is proved that its subsidiary AgustaWestland did give bribe...
10:10 AM, Oct 29, 2012
New Delhi: A Brigadier of the Indian Army is under the scanner for allegedly demanding bribe of USD five million from an Italian company in a helicopter deal, with the Defence Ministry on Saturday seeking details from the government there and assuring "strong action" against the culprits. The allegations were levelled against the Brigadier, who is currently posted at the Officers' Training Academy in Chennai, during an ongoing probe in...
11:53 AM, Oct 27, 2012
New Delhi: The sale of Augusta Westland helicopters to the Air Force is being probed for possible kickbacks. Italian authorities have reportedly recorded conversations between the India head of the helicopter manufacturer, Finmeccanica, and a middleman. The deal to purchase 12 VVIP helicopters for Rs 3500 crores is already under a cloud with the Ministry of Defence seeking probe reports from Italian authorities. Italian prosecutors have been investigating a series...
12:25 PM, Oct 25, 2012
Rome: There is worry for India in the Agusta Westland chopper deal with Italy. According to Italian newspapers, the government has begun a probe into the 51 million Euro commission to a Switzerland-based consultant. The firm, belonging to Guido Ralph Haschke, facilitated the deal of selling 12 VVIP choppers to India in 2010. The head of Italian aerospace and defence giant, Finmeccanica, is under investigation after a former top employee...
08:25 AM, Apr 25, 2012
Milan: Finmeccanica denied any wrongdoing over a 560 million euros helicopter deal after Indian authorities launched a corruption probe into the contract which sent shares in the Italian defence and aerospace group reeling. Shares in Finmeccanica slumped as much as 8.5 per cent to a six-day low. By 1327 GMT, the stock was down 5.6 per cent at 3.92 euros, featuring among the top losers. Defence Minister AK Antony has...
02:40 AM, Feb 28, 2012
