The Defence Ministry has ordered a CBI probe to look into allegations that a Brigadier had sought a bribe of Rs 25 crore from AgustaWestland to help it bag the deal for supply of 197 light choppers.
The allegations against the Brigadier surfaced during investigations into the Rs 3,700 crore VVIP chopper deal. The Army has requested Defence Ministry to investigate the charges against the Brigadier before taking any decision on the future developments in the light chopper deal. Allegations have been leveled against the Brigadier, who is presently posted in Chennai, in a letter allegedly sent by an AgustaWestland official in India to his superiors in Italy saying the officer was seeking USD 5 million for facilitating the deal in the company’s favour. PNS