The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered a complaint relating to bribery charges in the VVIP chopper deal and decided to send a team to Italy to probe the allegations.
The premier investigating agency has received documents from the Defence Ministry on the purchase of 12 AW-101 helicopters from the Italian firm AgustaWestland for Rs. 3,600 crore. It will send a team to Italy, headed by a DIG-level officer, in the next few days.
According to CBI sources, the agency would be probing allegations of kickbacks paid to Indian nationals.
The CBI would look into “specific” and “definite” allegations involving corruption or serious misconduct against public servants. It would then decide whether to file an FIR or register a ‘Preliminary Enquiry’, in case further ground work is required, and then register a case, the sources said.
After the government decided to order a CBI probe into the case, the agency on Thursday had asked the Defence Ministry officials to provide all files and papers. It also inquired with the Ministry whether any internal inquiry had been ordered.
