The CBI has sought permission from the President to record as witness the statements of Governors MK Narayanan and BV Wanchoo in connection with the probe into the VVIP chopper scam.
The CBI move comes close on the heels of law Ministry advising the agency against recording their statements as they enjoyed immunity from prosecution under Article 361 of the Constitution, agency sources said.
West Bengal Governor Narayanan was the National Security Advisor and his Goa counterpart Wanchoo was the head of elite Special Protection Group (SPG) that guards the Prime Minister. Seeking recording of their statements, the CBI has said Wanchoo and Narayanan had participated in the meeting in 2005 that allowed key changes in the technical specifications of the copters to be procured for VVIPs.
The sources said the CBI had sought permission on the ground that the President was the appointing authority of the Governors. In its communication to the President’s office, the agency has made it clear that the two Constitutional functionaries would be approached as witnesses for recording their statements in the case.
According to the CBI, the parameters relating to the service ceiling of the helicopters (maximum height at which a helicopter can operate) as also the field evaluation trial were changed in a manner that enabled AgustaWestland to clinch the deal.
The agency has alleged that reduction of service ceiling allowed the UK-based AgustaWestland to enter the fray as, otherwise, its choppers did not qualify for submission of bids. CBI has registered a case against former IAF Chief SP Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case of alleged bribery to the tune of rs 360 crore.
The allegation against the former Air Chief was that he had reduced the height of the VVIP helicopters so that AgustaWestland is included in the bids. However, the decision was taken in consultation with the Special Protection Group and other top officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.