Adding to the controversy surrounding the AgustaWestland case, it has now emerged that the investigating officer of the Enforcement Directorate was transferred about a fortnight ago.
Vikas Mehta who was leading the investigations into the VVIP helicopter scandal was transferred to Madurai in Tamil Nadu. ED officials insist that this was to comply with a regulation stipulating that an official who has served 22 years at one place at a stretch has to be transferred to a new location.
Mr. Mehta had filed the money laundering case in the AgustaWestland deal, arrested high profile lawyer Gautam Khaitan and also traced the money trail in the scam. All the attachments of assets by the ED were done under him, sources say.
The details have emerged even as questions are being raised by the Modi government about the delay on the part of the agencies in investigating the alleged scandal under the UPA government.
According to details now available, the ED initiated investigations into the suspected violation of foreign exchange rules based on media reports in February 2013, even before the CBI started its probe.
