VVIP Chopper scam: CBI planning to send LRs to four countries

NEW DELHI: CBI is likely to send judicial requests to at least four countries seeking information about financial transactions carried out by accused in the alleged payoffs made to clinch Rs 3600-crore VVIP helicopter deal.


CBI sources said they are analysing material to finalise specific points to be raised through Letters Rogatory.

The LRs--judicial requests--will be sent to the UK, Italy, Mauritius and Tunisia in which agency would seek information about financial transactions done by companies and individuals named in the CBI FIR.

The agency had named former IAF Chief SP Tyagi and 12 others in its FIR in the alleged payoffs made in the helicopter deal.

The agency would require these replies to establish money trail of the alleged illegal gratification which was routed in India through these countries, they said.

CBI had alleged in its FIR that middleman Guido Haschke through his Tunisia-based company Gordian Services Sarl entered into several consultancy contracts with AgustaWestland from 2004-05 onwards and "almost on back-to-back basis he also made consultancy contracts with the Tyagi brothers (Tyagi's cousins)," the sources said.

Under the cover of these contracts, Haschke allegedly sent Euro 1.26 lakh and Euro two lakh to Tyagi brothers.

The FIR alleged that middlemen Haschke and Carlos Gerosa managed to send Euro 5.6 million through Mohali-based IDS Infotech and Chandigarh-based Aeromatric Info Solutions private limited to India and kept the remaining amount out of about Euro 24.30 million received from AgustaWestland with themselves in the account of IDS Tunisia.

"A portion of this amount was sent to India through Mauritius and hawala route in order to pay kickbacks in India for swinging the VVIP helicopter deal in favour of AgustaWestland," it said.