In a decision that will possibly have serious implications for the ongoing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the VVIP chopper scandal, Italy’s top court has ordered the retrial of two top executives of defence group Finmeccanica in the bribery case.
This comes at a time of dramatic developments in India, with the government and the Opposition trading charges. Last week, former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi was arrested on the charge that he received kickbacks for altering the technical specifications of the bid to favour AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.
Sentenced in April
Two top executives — former Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi and former AgustaWestland chief Bruno Spagnolini — were sentenced in April by a Milan appeals court “for corruption and falsifying invoices.” Mr. Orsi was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, while Mr. Spagnolini received a four-year term.
According to Reuters, the top court took the decision for retrial last Friday after “the case went to the highest court after the two executives launched an appeal.” Both will now have to be tried again in front of Milan’s appeals court, it said.
While CBI claims it has proof against retired ACM Tyagi, the evidence is largely based on the happenings in Italy. So any reversal in the judgement in the case there will have serious implications in India.
India concluded a deal for 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters with AgustaWestland International Limited (AWIL), UK on February 8, 2010 at a price of Euro 556.262 million and three helicopters were delivered and accepted in December, 2012. They were meant to ferry the President, Vice President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries of the country.
However, allegations of corruption surfaced in Italy in early 2012 and Orsi was arrested on February 12, 2013. Following this the then Defence Minister A.K. Antony ordered an investigation and the agreement was put on hold and the contract was eventually terminated on January 1, 2014. The CBI had been investigating the case since then.
