A court has allowed managing director and chief executive officer of IDS Infotech ltd. (India) Pratap Krishan Aggarwal, an accused in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case, to travel abroad, sources said on Monday.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Jain allowed Aggarwal to visit Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Canada, and Denmark from October 12 to November 9, Court said. Aggarwal has sought court permission to travel abroad submitting that chargesheet in this case has not been filed as of yet and he never misused the permission granted for travelling abroad earlier.
The CBI opposed the plea saying the investigation of the case is at crucial stage and he may tamper with evidence. There is every possibility that the applicant accused may not return to the India and join the investigation, the probe agency added.
The court while granting permission to Aggarwal directed him to submit the address of his stay. It also directed Aggarwal neither to tamper with the evidence nor try to influence any witness in any manner.
The CBI on March 13, 2013 registered a first information report against former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi and others in the chopper deal case.
Firms Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech ltd (India) and Aeromatrix India were also booked as accused in the case.
Bribery allegations in the Rs 3,600 crore deal for 12 AW-101 choppers were being probed by the central investigating agency.