Antony orders probe into VVIP copter deal

[JAYRAM]

New Delhi, Sat Feb 25 2012, 02:34 hrs

A day after The Indian Express brought to light allegations of corruption against Italian defence manufacturer in a deal to sell 12 VVIP helicopters to India, Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday ordered a probe into the matter. Sources said that Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma has been asked to look into the allegations of corruption in the Rs 3,548 crore deal that was inked in 2010.

The probe by the defence ministry has been ordered after it came to light that Italian prosecutors are investigating allegations of corruption against state-backed defence major Finmeccanica. The probe is part of a widening investigation into malpractices in the firm that has shaken Italy.

Reports from Italy suggest that slush funds were generated after a "sudden" escalation of price by 10 million euros in 2010. While it is not clear whether kickbacks were paid in India, the money was allegedly used by a top Finmeccanica official to bribe Italian political parties.

"The minister has asked the defence secretary to look into the matter. These allegations are a matter of concern," an official said. While there has been no probe into the matter by Indian authorities yet, the deal had come under a shadow in 2009 when the Finance Ministry had objected to the steep price of the chopper and the elimination of the other contender that made it a single vendor situation.

India had signed the deal to 12 choppers, eight of which would be used for VVIP transportation and four for other operations. The procurement was to replace the Mi-8/17 helicopters that are currently used to fly VIPs like the President, Prime Minister and visiting dignitaries.

In 2010, Defence Minister AK Antony had said that the Finance Ministry scuttled a mega tender to procure mid air tankers to support fighter operations but cleared another contract to procure the VVIP choppers because of the 'changed security scenario'.

While several questions had been raised on the high price being quoted for the deal, Antony had said that the Finance Ministry supported the helicopter deal after the Special Protection Group insisted that new choppers are required because of the changed security scenario.

"Not only the Air Force but the SPG also was involved. They told us due to the security scenario, we should consider this proposal and the Finance Ministry also agreed to take their comments and it was cleared in the Cabinet Committee on Security," he had said.

Antony orders probe into VVIP copter deal - Indian Express

 

[Bhadra]

MHA must be put under the scanner for kickbacks in the deal..

 

[Armand2REP]

Finmeccanica is synonymous with Bofors.

 

[KS]

A day after The Indian Express brought to light allegations of corruption against Italian defence manufacturer in a deal to sell 12 VVIP helicopters to India, Defence Minister A K Antony on Friday ordered a probe into the matter.

Good job defence ministry of leaking it to the press to put pressure on Italians to back the fcuk out of Kerala.

 

[Ray]

The bureaucrats must be cut down to size.

They have a finger in all pies and then act coy.

Even in that ISRO deal, while the Mahadevan, the Scientist maybe at fault, it is obvious that bureaucrats were also involved and yet the Sceintists alone have been targeted!

 

[JAYRAM]

Saturday, February 25, 2012
First Reported By Chindits : Deviations In VVIP Choppers, Govt Overlooks!! Nov 21, 2007 & July 31, 2008

Chindits: First Reported By Chindits : Deviations In VVIP Choppers, Govt Overlooks!! Nov 21, 2007 & July 31, 2008

 

[Bhadra]

Recommendations is those of MHA, User is MHA and name is of IAF...... what an escape...

 

[JAYRAM]

FEBRUARY 27, 2012, 8:49 A.M. ET

UPDATE: Finmeccanica Denies Any Irregularity In India Contract

-- Shares fall 6% after reports that India is investigating helicopter contract

-- Investigation reportedly prompted by Italian probe into possible use of bribes by former Finmeccanica executives for overseas contracts

(Adds quotes and details throughout.)


By Gilles Castonguay
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


MILAN (Dow Jones)--Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI) Monday denied any knowledge of an Indian investigation into the awarding of a contract to the Italian defense and aerospace group for the supply of helicopters to the country's air force, news of which sent its stock tumbling by 6%.

Earlier Monday, two Italian newspapers reported of an investigation by India's defense ministry to ascertain whether the value of the contract had been inflated. The reports said the investigation was the outcome of another probe in Italy into the possible use of bribes by some former Finmeccanica executives to win contracts overseas.

India's investigation concerns a EUR560 million contract that Finmeccanica's helicopter unit, AgustaWestland, won in March 2010 to supply 12 AW101 helicopters along with training and logistical support to the country's air force.

AgustaWestland said the value of the contract ended up being less than the original offer, and both it and Finmeccanica denied any irregularities regarding the contract.

"With reference to articles published today [Monday], Finmeccanica declares that AgustaWestland is not involved in any irregularity concerning the supply of helicopters to India," Finmeccanica said. "No notice related to the purported investigations has been served to companies and officers of the Finmeccanica Group neither in Italy, nor in India."

Officials at India's ministry of defense weren't immediately available for comment.

At 1344 GMT, shares in Finmeccanica had recovered somewhat to trade 5.49% lower at EUR3.92 in Milan.

An Milan analyst said the investigation into the helicopter contract could pose a problem for Giuseppe Orsi because he was head of AgustaWestland before becoming chief executive of the Finmeccanica group in 2011.

News of the investigation into the 2010 helicopter contract comes at a delicate time for relations between Italy and India.

Indian police have arrested two Italian soldiers as they investigate the shooting death of two fishermen. The soldiers were working on a tanker to protect it from pirates. The fishermen were near the tanker when they were shot.

Last month, Finmeccanica's Eurofighter consortium lost out to France's Dassault Aviation SA (AM.FR) as preferred bidder for a multi-billion-dollar order for fighter jets in India.

UPDATE: Finmeccanica Denies Any Irregularity In India Contract - WSJ.com

 

[Armand2REP]

Here is more bad news for Italy...

Russia refuses foreign purchases of armored vehicles

Ъ-Новости - Россия откажется от закупок зарубежной бронетехники

Scratch the order for 1000 IVECO...

 

[prateikf]

Why is Mr. Antony ordering a probe? Why does he not cancel the deal and blacklist all the firms involved as he has done with the far more important artillery deal? his double standards are so evident as the lives of VIP's are important while the lives of our soldiers are expendable.

 

[lambu]

Desi' Yellow Journalism At Its Very Best

Thus far, at least two 'desi' journalists seem to have insinuated that if the Government of India pushes through a certain procurement contract for a particular piece of hardware (in this case the 12 AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopters for VVIP transportation worth Rs3,546.17 crore or 560 million Euros) with efficiency and alacrity, then there's something definitely unusual and fishy about this whole exercise, since these two 'desi' journalists are obviously of the view that such procurement exercises (i.e. the efficiency and alacrity with which the Govt of India pushed through the purchase of the AW-101s) are unusual simply because such "efficiency and alacrity" are "totally lacking in the purchase of anything for the armed forces". In addition, it has been alleged by one of these two 'desi' journalists (see: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mtH4Z4zFTY/T0h_8z-wo3I/AAAAAAAAI3g/wMfLd2RCh1s/s1600/img955.jpg & http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WKofKuQxu64/T0h_8grx7QI/AAAAAAAAI3Y/0pygl4aKNt4/s1600/img957.jpg) that the AW-101 fails 'to make the cut' by not complying with the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR), especially the 40 mandatory parameters laid down by the Indian Air Force (IAF). Specifically, it has been alleged that: the AW-101 does not come equipped with a missile approach warning system (MAWS); the AW-101 does not come with a product warranty, which should be either three years or 900 flight-hours; and that the selected VVIP transportation helicopter ought to have flown in altitudes above 17,000 feet in order to transport VVIPs out to India's remote areas. Needless to say, all such allegations are manifestly false and deeply mischievous, as the following data will reveal.

Requests for Proposals (RFP) or global tenders were floated December 2006 by India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) to seven helicopter manufacturers, and all responses had been submitted by February 2007. Following this, the H-92 Super Hawk from US-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp and the AW-101 from Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland Helicopters were shortlisted. However, both the H-92 and AW-101 had performance parameter deviations, with AgustaWestland having one deviation short than Sikorsky Aircraft. The IAF had specified that the helicopters on offer be at least twin-engined and fitted with a SATCOM-based communications suite; have glass cockpits and digital flight controls; come equipped with automatic flight management systems and a rear-entry ramp; incorporate additional ballistics hardening of the airframe; come fitted with a main-cum-tail rotor de-icing system using heated blades; have an integral emergency flotation system plus twin wide sliding cargo doors; be equipped with wire-strike and lightning-strike protection systems; have an on-board health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) to facilitate predictive maintenance practices; mount a new-generation on-board defensive aids suite comprising radar/laser warning receivers-cum-missile approach warning systems, chaff/flare countermeasures dispensers, plus mountings for accommodating miniaturised directional infra-red/laser jammers at a future date; and feature a high tail-boom since it would allow the VVIP's motorised vehicles to come right next to the rear-ramp and not expose' the protected persons to a threat from anyone in the vicinity.

Although the IAF conducted on-site flight-trials of both the H-92 and AW-101 between January 14 and 19, 2008, it was only in December 2009 that the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 12 AW-101s from AgustaWestland. Subsequently, was signed between the MoD and AgustaWestland Ltd on February 8, 2010. The contract included an extensive five-year logistics support service and initial aircrew and technician training (see: Indian Air Force Signs €560 Million Contract For 12 AW101 Helicopters - Strengthening AgustaWestland's Growth Strategy For the Indian Market | AgustaWestland). Out of these 12 AW-101s, eight will be configured for VVIP transportation and the remaining four helicopters will be the non-VVIP version for usage by the Special Protection Group's Counter-Sniper Group and Counter-Assault Group. The first six AW-101s will be delivered in the latter half of this year, and all deliveries would be completed by 2013.

Let us now address and disprove in detail the allegations and insinuations that were listed out in the very beginning. Firstly, there's the allegation/insinuation of this deal being pushed through with remarkable "efficiency and alacrity". This is a blatant lie, pure and simple. The entire AW-101 procurement exercise—starting with the issuance of RFPs right up to contract signature—lasted 38 months. Compare this with the procurement exercise, initiated in late 1982, for procuring the refurbished aircraft carrier INS Viraat, 20 AgustaWestland-built Sea King Mk42B helicopters, 25 BAE Systems-built Sea Harrier FRS Mk51 and five T Mk60 V/STOL combat aircraft, which took only NINE MONTHS to negotiate, finalise and ink—a record that remains unparalleled till this day and is worth emulating.

to continue reading follow the link...

TRISHUL

 

[Daredevil]

VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scandal?

VVIP copter deal to be scrapped if charges proved: Antony

NEW DELHI: Under fire over allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal, government on Wednesday asserted that nobody found guilty will be spared and if wrong-doings were found by the CBI, the contract can be scrapped.

"Nobody will be spared whatever may be the consequences," defence minister A K Antony told reporters on the alleged Italian chopper scam.

Another scam had unfolded with the arrest yesterday of the head of a state-controlled Italian aerospace company that is suspected of paying bribes of about Rs 362 crore in India to get orders for helicopters to ferry Indian VVIPs, prompting the government to order a CBI probe.

The Ministry of Defence also decided to put on hold the receipt of the remaining nine of the 12 helicopters for which the Rs 3600 crore deal was struck in 2010.

Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, was arrested on Monday in relation to a probe into international corruption.

He is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica's subsidiary AgustaWestland.

Antony said CBI has been asked to give an early report on its probe into alleged kickbacks in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

"Once we get the preliminary inquiry report from CBI, strongest action will be taken against those found guilty," he said.

Asked about reports of the alleged role of former IAF chief SP Tyagi in the deal, the minister said, "I have no information."

"After the CBI report, we will take serious action that may include cancelling the deal," he said.

"We don't want to jump the gun. We can get our money back even at this stage," Antony said on the Rs 3600 crore deal.

Asked whether the money paid to the Italian firm so far can be claimed back by the Indian government, Antony said, "If the Indian government paid any amount of the money, as per the provisions of the integrity pact, we can get back the entire money we paid to the vendor."

He mentioned that the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) governing all defence deals takes care of the integrity pact by the foreign vendors.

"Not a single pie from the Indian government we will lose. As per the DPP, any contract beyond Rs 300 crores, before finalising the contract the vendor will have to sign an integrity pact with the Government of India, agreeing to our conditions. If they violate that condition, they are liable to criminal action," he said.

The defence minister said companies are liable to be prosecuted and blacklisted for their lapses.

He referred to the actions taken by the government in such cases, where six foreign defence firms were blacklisted.

"I told you earlier that a CBI inquiry... after their first report, they recommended certain actions against companies. The moment we received the complaint, we did not hesitate, we blacklisted six companies. Out of that four are most powerful international companies," he said.

Antony stressed that tough action will be taken against the guilty, despite their stature.

"We are not bothered about who the companies are, how strong they are and how influential they are. But everything depends on the CBI inquiry. The moment we get a report from the CBI, whoever is found guilty, Indian or foreigners, we will take strongest action against them. They will have to pay the price for their lapses," he said.

Antony said the Indian government has been trying to get details from Italy since the beginning of the controversy around a year ago.

"After we saw reports, the Indian media reports of arrests and investigation going on in Italy, immediately we wrote to the Indian Ambassador in Italy to get the details from the Italian government and also the prosecutor who is conducting the inquiry," he said.

The second step, he said, was to involve the External Affairs Ministry to seek a report from governments of Italy and Britain.

"The second step (was) through the Ministry of External Affairs. Our government contacted the Government of Italy and Government of United Kingdom because AugustaWestland is a British company and major shareholder is British. MEA wrote to both the countries again," he said.

From the day one we have been trying to find the truth, Antony said, adding that the countries were specifically asked about alleged involvement of some Indian in the scam.

"Second report came on involvement of some Indian we again asked both the government is it true about this allegations. Is it true that Indians are involved," he said.

Asked whether the scam will impact other deals under consideration with AugustaWestland and Finmeccanica, Antony said such an action will depend on the result of CBI inquiry.

"Let CBI inquire this. Everything depends on CBI inquiry on this... We have already given this issue to the CBI. Let us see the progress of CBI inquiry. At any stage of the inquiry, if anybody is guilty, anywhere in the deals, they will have to pay the price," he said.

He said no time line has been fixed for the CBI to give its report.

VVIP copter deal to be scrapped if charges proved: Antony - The Times of India

 

[Daredevil]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

Former IAF chief SP Tyagi refutes bribe allegation

NEW DELHI: Former IAF chief SP Tyagi on Wednesday refuted allegations that he was paid bribes to swing a Rs 3,600 crore deal for procuring 12 choppers from Italian firm Finmeccanica to ferry VVIPS.

"I am innocent. These allegations are totally baseless and I am denying them categorically. The deal was signed in 2010 whereas I retired in 2007 itself," he said.

Asked if he had changed any specifications for the contract to favour Finmeccanica, Tyagi said the "staff qualitative requirements for the VVIP choppers were frozen in 2003, much before I assumed the office of Chief of Air Staff, and the IAF did not change any requirements after that."

Asked about his relations with three alleged middlemen for the deal including one 'former IAF officer Captain Tyagi', the former chief said he was his cousin but their relationship did not go beyond this.

Reports on Wednesday suggested that Italian investigators have alleged in a preliminary inquiry submitted in an Italian court that business conglomerate Finmeccanica bribed SP Tyagi when he was chief of the Indian Air Force to swing the controversial AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal in favour of the company.

After the arrest of Finmeccanica's head on Tuesday in Italy in connection with the controversial deal, the defence ministry ordered a CBI probe into the charges.

"I have been hit by a thunderstorm," Tyagi told reporters on allegations that the Italian company had bribed him to swing the chopper deal in its favour.

Another scam unfolded with the arrest of the head of a state-controlled Italian aerospace company that is suspected of paying bribes of about Rs 362 crore in India to get orders for helicopters to ferry Indian VVIPs, prompting the government to order a CBI probe.

The Ministry of Defence also decided to put on hold the receipt of the remaining nine of the 12 helicopters for which the Rs 3600 crore deal was struck in 2010.

"Giuseppe Orsi, the head of Italian defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, was arrested on Monday in relation to a probe into international corruption. He is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes regarding the sale to the Indian government of 12 helicopters produced by Finmeccanica's subsidiary AgustaWestland," Italian news agency Ansa said.

"There is smoke," Tyagi said while favouring a probe into the deal.

"When I became the Air chief in 2004 and in 2007, I retired, during that period no changes were made.

"According to my information, nothing was done which raises a suspicion from my side. But it is true if there are so many reports, then there is something in it. I don't know what it is but all I can say is that it should be inquired. There should be an inquiry so that all the facts come out. I am not only ready for an inquiry but I want an inquiry," he said.


Former IAF chief SP Tyagi refutes bribe allegation - The Times of India

 

[Daredevil]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

Indian tender twisted to favour Italian firm: Prosecutors

BUSTO ARSIZIO, ITALY: Three brothers with family ties to a former head of the Indian air force helped to twist rules in a helicopter tender won by Italy's AgustaWestland, prosecutors alleged in an arrest warrant for a top Italian businessman.

Italian prosecutors said in the warrant reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday that two managers at AgustaWestland, a unit of defence group Finmeccanica, paid go-betweens to help it win the 2010 contract to supply 12 helicopters to India.

Part of these payments ended up with the three brothers, Juli, Docsa and Sandeep Tyagi, whose cousin Sashi Tyagi was former Indian air force chief. None of the Tyagis has been accused of wrongdoing by officials in India.

In a growing corruption scandal, police arrested on Tuesday AgustaWestland's former chief executive Giuseppe Orsi, who now heads Finmeccanica Orsi and denies any wrongdoing over the 556-million-euro deal.

The case, which is still in its preliminary investigation phase, has rocked Italy before parliamentary elections on February 24-25, and also in India, the world's largest weapon importer.

Prosecutors in the northern town of Busto Arsizio, near AgustaWestland's headquarters, said Orsi hired US-born Guido Ralph Haschke, who was then a consultant for the Finmeccanica group, to lead dealings in India to secure the contract.

Haschke and his partner Carlo Gerosa, prosecutors said, had close ties with the Tyagi brothers.

Prosecutors allege that Orsi, along with the current chief executive of AgustaWestland Bruno Spagnolini, paid 400,000 euros in consultancy fees to Haschke and Gerosa. "Of this, 100,000 euros in cash were given to the Tyagi brothers," they said in the 65-page warrant.

The money went to the brothers to pressure Indian officials and help doctor the tender terms to favour the specification of AgustaWestland's helicopters, the prosecutors alleged.

The tender was changed to accommodate AgustaWestland by, among other things, lowering required altitudes where the helicopters could operate to 15,000 feet from 18,000 feet, "thus allowing AgustaWestland, which otherwise would not even have been able to present an offer, to take part in the tender", the warrant said.

The tender terms were also changed to introduce an engine failure flying test. This favoured AgustaWestland as its helicopters were the only ones in the tender operating with three engines.

Orsi's lawyer said his client denied distributing any money or pocketing a single euro, adding that the investigation did not provide any evidence of illicit payments. AgustaWestland said on Tuesday it supported Spagnolini who was placed under house arrest.

The warrant also covered Haschke and Gerosa. Neither has been arrested as they are in Switzerland. A lawyer for Haschke, contacted by reporters, declined to comment on the case while Gerosa could not be reached for comment.

Reuters was not immediately able to locate the Tyagi brothers, nor Sashi Tyagi.

Sashi Tyagi, head of India's air force from 2004-2007, in November told a news weekly that he had no memory of the issue. The warrant did not explain how Tyagi might have been involved in a deal completed after he had left his post.

The investigation into Finmeccanica, which started more than a year ago, is one of a series of corruption scandals in defence dealmaking in India. Defence minister A K Antony has ordered an inquiry into the deal to be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the country's federal police force.

The arrests over Indian bribery allegations come as Finmeccanica unit Alenia Aermacchi hopes to compete for a contract to supply over 50 military transport aircraft to India in competition with European aerospace group EADS.

According to specialist defence publication IHS Jane's, Alenia would build 40 of the 56 C-27J Spartan airlifters in India and use the same assembly line to meet future regional demand for tactical air transport.

The military arm of EADS subsidiary Airbus told Reuters last week it would offer its C295 military transport plane as an alternative, adding that manufacturers were waiting for a formal competition document from the Indian government.

 

[Apollyon]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

But SP Tyagi (former ACM) says changes in specs (max. altitude ceiling down to 15000 feet) were done before his tenure even started (2004-07).

 

[Ray]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

It is time to get to the bottom of all these scams and book the culprits of all the scam.

That there is some nexus can be sniffed given that the CBI prosecutor is alleged to be hand in glove with one of the 2G scam accused.

I am totally flaked out with the UPA and its shenanigans.

You lift a stone and there is a scam!

What a way to go and they claim India is moving to be a superpower!

It is super nonsense!

But the UPA has real slick talkers in their spokesperson and good old Digman Singh and that proxy from Hamaracongress. com.

I have never heard of a dot com chap being the front of a recognised national party that claims to have given India its Independence and the RTI!

Who the hell s that chap and what is his credentials. Ar best, I thought he was a sport programme debate chap.

And Mrs Dixit's son should not come as a spokesman since he stretches his mouth and makes funny faces and that distracts from the wise things he says!

Even then I will say he is one of the more decent spokesman of any political party.

I am sure there must be other ways how Mrs Dixit can promote her son to become another dynastic flag-bearer!

It is not that I root for the BJP.

It is just that the Congress and the scams and its total lack of leadership, backseat driving and total confused approach to everything and the lack of wanting to clean up the Augean stables in an honest and transparent way has really made me despondent.

 

[arunpat]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

Finmeccanica scandal: Arms agent's connect with Andhra charity Arbor Charitable Foundation

NEW DELHI: What has Carlo Gerosa, business partner of controversial arms agent Guido Haschke, got to do with a small women's charity in Andhra Pradesh run by catholic nuns?

Haschke is at the centre of Finmeccanica scandal. Based on wiretaps of his phone conversations, Italian prosecutors allege he was paid 51 million Euros as a kickback for helping Agusta Westland clinch the 3,600 crore deal to sell 12 helicopters to Indian Air Force. Conversations between Haschke and Gerosa form a key part of court documents.

Haschke and Gerosa are directors and authorised signatories of Aeromatrix Info Solutions, a Delhi-based company registered at an address in the upscale Defence Colony neighbourhood. Aeromatrix is majority owned by Mauritius-registered Infotech Design Systems Ltd. Others who own shares in the company are Gautam Khaitan (17.32) and Arihant Jain (0.02%), according to regulatory filings with the registrar of companies. Khaitan is managing partner and Jain is junior partner at the law firm OP Khaitan & Co, according to the company website.

Haschke served as a director in Emaar MGF Land Ltd for three months between September and December 2009.

But Gerosa's connections in India are more widespread. He served as a director in Narbheram Power and Steel Pvt Ltd between May 2006 and July 2007. Narbheram is part of the Kolkata-based Atha Group, which has interests in mining and power. He also served as a director of Arbor Charitable Foundation from August 2008 till March 2010, a month after the deal was signed.

According to Sister Daisy (Athickal Annakutty John), who is a director and signatory of the foundation, Arbor helps rural women in Andhra and encourages them to save through its various schemes. "An Italian gentleman called Dominiqo, who is based in Switzerland, approached the Bishop of Khammam (Rev. Paul Maipan) in 2006, saying he wants to help rural women in Andhra Pradesh. The Bishop asked me and Sister Moly (Pazhayamatathil Moly Mathew) to work with them," Sister Daisy told ET on the phone.

She said the money for the charity's functioning-it has a corpus of 4 crore currently-comes from Switzerland. She said she didn't know the full name of Dominiquo. Arbor's India head, according to the nun, was one Luca Streri. "Gerosa was only a nominee of Dominiquo," she said. Arbor's registered office is in Malviya Nagar in Delhi. Board meetings used to happen in Delhi, the 72-year-old nun said, adding that Arbor has an office in Italy, apart from the headquarters in Switzerland. She says she never met Gerosa.
Finmeccanica scandal: Arms agent's connect with Andhra charity Arbor Charitable Foundation - The Economic Times

 

[Daredevil]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

But SP Tyagi (former ACM) says changes in specs (max. altitude ceiling down to 15000 feet) were done before his tenure even started (2004-07).

That's all sound bytes. Don't for a minute believe that since he is former Air Chief he is not corrupt. We don't know. Let the investigators follow the money trail. The Italian authorities have already arrested former CEO of Augusta Westland for bribing Indians to get the VVIP copter deal. And the charge sheet claims that Augusta Westland paid bribes through the middle men. Former Air Chief SP Tyagi admits that he has met the middle men. It is suspected that money was paid to the cousins of SP Tyagi to clinch the helicopter deal.

Let's wait and see.

 

[Daredevil]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

VVIP helicopter deal is Bofors scam in the making: BJP

NEW DELHI: Comparing the controversial AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal with the Bofors scam of the 1990s, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded an explanation from the government on the delay in initiating a probe into the deal.

"I see a second Bofors in the making. Why was there silence and inaction for one year, when there was proper evidence? (Defence minister) A K Antony had better explain how delivery of the helicopters was allowed when there was evidence that commission was paid, which is illegal," BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said.

In the Bofors scandal of the late 1980s and early 1990s, several Congress leaders were accused of receiving kickbacks from Swedish firm Bofors AB for a bid to supply India 155 mm field howitzer.

"The CBI inquiry was announced only yesterday (Tuesday). The issue has been raised in Parliament by BJP, and the defence minister should explain why proper facts were not presented to Parliament. The fact that it was an Italian company, was that ground to let the investigation go slow?" he questioned, insinuating the Italian origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Prasad slammed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the centre, saying that scams were being uncovered in every department of the government.

"Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, please explain why is there a scam in every department of government, whether 2G, CWG (commonwealth games), coal..." he said.

The defence ministry Tuesday ordered a CBI probe into the $750 million deal for 12 VVIP AgustaWestland helicopters, following the arrest, in Italy, of its manufacturer Finmeccanica's chief on charges of graft in the contract.

This is not the first time that the allegations have surfaced. Three of the helicopters have already been delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF), the first of them in December 2010.

The contract for the helicopters was signed in February 2010.

The IAF has sought the AgustaWestland choppers as a replacement for its Mi-17 cargo helicopters that have been modified for VVIP deployment.

The Comptroller and Auditor General had made an adverse comment, saying the AugustaWestland was a waste of resources.

VVIP helicopter deal is Bofors scam in the making: BJP - The Times of India

 

[parijataka]

Re: VVIP Helicopters Deal - Kickbacks suspected - Another Bofors Scand

But SP Tyagi (former ACM) says changes in specs (max. altitude ceiling down to 15000 feet) were done before his tenure even started (2004-07).

Right. For 2G scam also the initial argument of Congress govt was that it was following norms set by NDA govt and before A Raja was questioned Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha were questioned and exonerated !