VVIP chopper deal: Enforcement Directorate summons private bank CEO

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate ( ED) has summoned the CEO of a private bank in connection with its money laundering probe in the multi-crore rupee AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal.

Sources said the agency has summoned the top official of the bank as probe found that a number of transactions were done by the alleged middlemen involved in the deal by transfering funds from the bank's London branch to Mauritius, Dubai and Singapore among others.

"The bank official and others have been asked to join investigations and tell if the huge amount of funds transferred were done after following the set rules in this regard. The agency needs both help and information from the bank officials to unravel the pattern of funds flow in the case," sources said.

They said the CEO's statement will be recorded while he and other officials of the bank are questioned next week.

The agency, sources said, crores of rupees were moved by the alleged middlemen through the banking channel just before the deal to purchase the dozen VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was being formalized.

ED is an investigative agency to check the trail of stash funds, kickbacks and the proceeds of crime in a case.

The probe agency, in the same case, had questioned an ex-Air Marshal and a retired Group Captrain rank officer of IAF.

ED had registered a criminal case under PMLA last year to probe alleged financial violations in the 12 VVIP choppers deal by India from AgustaWestland.