The CBI has recorded the statement of businessman Vipin Khanna in connection with its probe in the case of payment of about $6 million as kickbacks in the VVIP aircraft Embraer’s purchase.
Khanna, the 87-year-old businessman close to former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, was caught in the scam after the US Justice Department found the Brazilian company Embraer paid bribes across the world.
In 2008, during UPA regime, India purchased three Embraer jets, worth USD 208 million. The aircraft were to be used by the DRDO for air-borne radar systems.
The point of suspicion led to top Congress leaders, after the US released Khanna’s name in bribing Indian leaders to clinch the deal for the Brazilian Jet company.
The company deposed before the US authorities that $6 million were paid in India as kickbacks through Khanna. The company also confessed that it also bribed Saudi Arabian officials to get the deal for executive jets.
Khanna was earlier probed by ED in Food-for-Oil Scam which resulted in the resignation of Natwar Singh from the UPA Government.