Chopper Scam: CBI seeks nod to examine MK Narayanan, BV Wanchoo

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has sought permission from the Law Ministry to question the governors of West Bengal and Goa, MK Narayanan and BV Wanchoo, as witnesses in the AgustaWestland helicopter scam.

The agency approached the law ministry saying the governors were constitutional authorities, and is awaiting the ministry’s reply. The request says CBI wants to speak to the two governors only as witnesses and not suspects.

The agency believes that the duo had participated in meetings in 2005 and 2006, when Narayanan was the National Security Advisor and Wanchoo was the chief of the Special Protection Group (SPG), allegedly leading to key changes in the technical specifications of the choppers required by the government and allowed AgustaWestland to qualify as a bidder.

The operational requirements for choppers were deliberated at length between the Indian Air Force, National Security Advisor, SPG, and the defence ministry between March 2005 and September 2006, leading to the changes. The CBI wants to know from Narayanan and Wanchoo what exactly transpired at these meetings.

The probe into the scam is at an advanced stage, with CBI officials also travelling to Italy to speak to the key middlemen who are facing a trial there for rigging the VVIP chopper deal and paying kickbacks to Indian persons. The CBI has named former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi in its first information report in the case.