The Defence Ministry has sought details from the Indian Embassy in Rome about reports suggesting that Italian prosecutors have shelved proceedings against defence major Finmeccannica in the alleged scam in the Rs 3,600 crore deal to supply 12 VVIP helicopters to India.
“The Indian Embassy in Rome has been asked to provide us complete details about the ongoing case there in which proceedings are going on in a court in Milan”, Defence Ministry sources said. The Ministry will respond on the issue after it gets a factual report from the Indian embassy there.
India scrapped the deal on January 1 on the basis of alleged breach of pre-contract integrity pact and alleged payment of kickbacks to Indian agents by the firm to secure the contract. Prosecutors in the Italian city of Busto Arsizio have shelved proceedings against Finmeccanica for alleged corruption in the sale to the Indian government of 12 AW-101 helicopters made by its subsidiary AgustaWestland, Italian news agency Ansa said in its report.
Prosecutors have stated Finmeccanica has nothing to do with the offence, Finmeccannica said in a statement issued in Italy. The Italian firm said its two subsidiary companies have agreed to pay a fine in the contract but not admitted to any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the CBI that is probing the bribery angle in the deal here said reported developments in Italy will not affect the investigation here that has reached an advanced stage. Official sources said the agency has a watertight case and it will proceed with its investigation.