The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against unknown officials of Indian Air Force, Ministry of Defence and controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari for alleged corruption in procurement of 75 Pilatus basic trainer aircraft in 2009.
The CBI also carried out out searches at the residence and office of Bhandari in connection with the deal, officials told PTI.
Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft Ltd has also been named as an accused by the CBI in the case pertaining to the charges of irregularities and bribe of Rs 339 crore in the procurement, the agency said.
In 2018, while the CBI investigation was going on, the Defence Ministry had ordered the suspension of all business dealings with Bhandari's firms.
The vigilance wing of the Defence Ministry intimated all its departments and wings, along with the Army, IAF and Navy, about its suspension order pertaining to Offset India Solutions (OIS) (Pvt) Ltd, which belongs to Bhandari, on 5 January 2018, reported The Times of India.
Bhandari, who is also an accused in a 2016 case under the Official Secrets Act relating to the recovery of confidential documents of the Ministry of Defence from his residence during an Income Tax raid in 2016, was declared a proclaimed offender by a trial court in January 2018, reported PTI.
He was reportedly close to Congress leaders and is alleged to have business dealings with Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. After the raids at his residence and offices, Bhandari successfully escaped India and is presently living in London, reported The Economic Times.
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