The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned RK Nanda on Tuesday, an alleged associate of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel, in connection with the VVIP Helicopter deal.
Nanda was questioned about the outward flow of purported foreign remittances worth Rs 6.5 crore, received by his firm from Michel.
According to sources inside the CBI, others who were questioned on Tuesday are:
- Advocate Gautam Khaitan,
- Praveen Bakshi, CEO, Aeromatrix Infosolutions Pvt Ltd
- Pratap Aggarwal, Managing Director, IDS
Infotech
Owner of a Delhi-based travel company, Nanda’s alleged shell company Media Exim received Rs 6.5 crore from Michel between 2005-07.
Sources said that the company was set up in 2005 ostensibly to export jewellery and music CDs. However, the money sent by Michel was allegedly used to buy property in up-market locations of Delhi.
CBI suspects that the property may have been used to influence decision makers and middlemen in the deal.
Nanda’s travel company Supreme Airways also received Rs 12 crore from Global Service FZE – Michel’s company in Dubai.
In 2012, the company was allegedly used to purchase tickets for various influential people including some former Indian Air Force officials. Michel was also questioned in 2013.
CBI had registered a case against former IAF Chief SP Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins, Bakshi, Aggarwal and European middlemen – Guido Haschke, Carlo Gerosa and Chritian Michel.
The allegation against Tyagi is that he reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000 m to 4,500 m (15,000 ft) which put AgustaWestland helicopters in the race for the deal without which its choppers were not even qualified for submission of bids.
Tyagi has denied allegations against him and said the change of specifications was a collective decision in which senior officers of Indian Air Force, SPG and other departments were involved.
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