Italian authorities have informed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that the agency can initiate a request to extradite Carlos Gerosa, an alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, within two months. The issue is expected to be taken up during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in the next few weeks.
The Italian police had detained Gerosa last month on an Interpol Red Notice issued on the ED’s request in 2016, in connection with a money- laundering investigation into the ₹3,700-crore VVIP chopper deal. He hadcome to Italy from Switzerland. An Italian court later ordered his release saying there was no extradition treaty with India.
“We do not have an extradition treaty with Italy. However, under at least two international treaties to which both countries are signatories, we can move for Gerosa’s extradition for his prosecution in the case. Therefore, documents are being prepared to move for his extradition through the External Affairs Ministry,” said an official, confirming that the ED had received a communication from Italy offering assistance.
The Directorate is also preparing its request for seeking the extradition of middleman Christian Michel from the UAE. The request was earlier sent to the U.K., which informed the Indian agencies that he was no more operating from there.
The agency hopes that its requests will be considered as the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a charge sheet in its own criminal case against the middlemen and the other accused.
‘Bribe routed via trio’
According to the CBI, a bribe of €62 million from AgustaWestland was routed through Michel, Gerosa and his associate Guido Haschke. The funds were channelled via a web of companies overseas and in India on the pretext of service agreements. The agency has been able to establish the money trail in the British Virgin Islands, the U.K., Mauritius, Singapore, the UAE and Tunisia.
Michel allegedly used his two companies, Dubai-based Global Services FZE and London-based Global Trade & Commerce Services. It is alleged that Michel had access to confidential papers, including the revised operational requirement document, evaluation report of AgustaWestland’s rival offering Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, and a technical committee report prepared by the Indian Air Force. These documents were allegedly shared with the then AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini, Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi and others. Michel also had information on file movements.
The CBI has filed the charge sheet, running into 30,000 pages, against retired Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi, former Air Marshal J.S. Gujral and nine others.
The agency alleges that the funds routed through Gerosa and Haschke were also managed by accused Gautam Khaitan, who was instrumental in setting up some of the companies.
