After getting the opinion from Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi the Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday quizzed West Bengal Governor M. K. Narayanan as a “witness” in connection with the agency’s ongoing probe into allegations of bribery in the VVIP chopper deal with Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland.
The UPA government had earlier denied the CBI permission to question Mr. Narayanan and Goa Governor B.V. Wanchoo, citing constitutional immunity they enjoy as serving Governors. The former Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran, had warned the agency against going ahead with its plans to question the two serving Governors.
However, Mr. Rohatgi, reversed this decision, saying constitutional immunity of Governors is no bar to questioning them as witnesses.
CBI sources said Mr. Narayanan’s statement was recorded by a team of officials in Kolkata. The agency had sought time from Mr. Narayanan on June 24 for recording his statement.
Mr. Narayanan was part of the group that went into the procedures of tendering before the deal worth Rs. 3,600 crore was signed for supply of 12 helicopters. He was the National Security Adviser before being appointed West Bengal Governor.
