The Enforcement Directorate, which has recorded the statement of a retired Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Maintenance Command) in connection with the Rs.3,700-crore AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, has sought information from the Defence Ministry on post-retirement cooling-off period for IAF officers.
The ED last month summoned the retired Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Maintenance Command), Air Marshal Gautam Nayyar, and recorded his statement on the alleged links with Christian Michel, an accused.
According to the ED, the Air Marshal received Rs.1 crore from Mr. Michel’s Dubai-based firm Global Services after retirement. The agency has also obtained documents suggesting that Mr. Michel had financed the foreign trips of the retired officer and his wife during 2010-2013.
In a statement to the media, the Air Marshal has denied his role in any defence deal, including the VVIP helicopter contract.
Besides the Air Marshal, the ED has summoned nearly a dozen people for questioning to find out more about the alleged middle-man’s dealings in India.
The agency has so far attached three movable and immovable assets purchased by Mr. Michel through the Delhi-based shell company Media Exim Private Limited, besides Rs.50 lakh in a fixed deposit.
Documents received by the Defence Ministry from Italian authorities have revealed that there were two post-contract service agreements, dated March 1, 2010, and May 26, 2010, between AgustaWestland Holding Limited and Mr. Michel, then a resident of Carcile Court in London. He was a long-time agent for the sale of AgustaWestland spare parts in India.
Under the two contracts, AgustaWestland had to pay €42 million to Mr. Michel for the services in the supply of 12 VVIP helicopters to the Defence Ministry. However, it was later scaled down to €30 million.
