AgustaWestland case: CBI rejects allegation of non-cooperation

NEW DELHI: Rejecting allegations of 'non-cooperation', CBI has said that all documents related to AgustaWestland helicopter bribery scandal have been provided to prosecutors in Italy who are contesting the case there.

The agency refuted media reports which alleged that documents have not been provided to prosecutors in Italy which was hampering India's case in Italian court.

CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said no document specifically mentioned by the Italian prosecution lawyer has been withheld or declined to be provided.

"The documents have been provided expeditiously through proper channel by CBI in consultation with the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The perceived non-cooperation of CBI is totally incorrect and far from truth," she defended.

The CBI, which carried out probe in India, had named 13 individuals, including former IAF Chief S P Tyagi and European nationals Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke in the FIR as accused in connection with the bribery case.

Italian agencies had arrested the then CEO of AgustaWestland Giuseppe Orsi for alleged bribe given to Indian middlemen to clinch the deal.

The supply of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland had come under scanner after Italian authorities alleged that bribe money was given by the company to clinch the deal.