Rolls-Royce booked on graft charge in Hawk aircraft deal

Devesh K. Pandey
Rolls-Royce booked on graft charge in Hawk aircraft deal

The agency had initiated an inquiry against Rolls-Royce in December 2016.NADJA WOHLLEBEN

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Tuesday, 30th May 2023
Page No. 1
Chennai Print Edition
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The CBI has registered a case against British Aerospace Systems, Rolls-Royce Plc, its then director Tim Johns, two alleged middlemen, Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu Choudhrie, and unknown Indian public servants, for alleged corruption during 2003-2012 in the procurement of Hawk aircraft.

The agency had initiated an inquiry on December 15, 2016 against Rolls-Royce Plc, Mr. Sudhir Choudhrie, unknown officials of the Defence Ministry and others. It allegedly discovered that unknown officials conspired with Mr. Jones and others to cheat the Government of India in connection with the aircraft supply by Rolls-Royce and its associate group companies, including Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Limited, the FIR said.

The suspect public servants approved and procured 24 Hawk 115 Advance Jet Trainer aircraft for £734.21 million, besides permitting licensed manufacturing of 42 additional aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) against the materials supplied by the manufacturer for an additional amount of £308.247 million, and payment of £7.50 million towards the manufacturer’s licence fee.

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