AgustaWestland - Revision history

Jyoti: /* Arrested in December 2016 */

2016-12-10T11:41:20Z

‎Arrested in December 2016

Jyoti: /* Arrested */

2016-12-10T11:40:29Z

‎Arrested

Jyoti: /* Had met middleman at farmhouse */

2016-12-10T11:39:16Z

‎Had met middleman at farmhouse

Pdewan: /* The case, in brief */

2016-12-10T10:18:03Z

‎The case, in brief

Jyoti at 20:28, 18 November 2016

2016-11-18T20:28:00Z

Jyoti at 20:23, 18 November 2016

2016-11-18T20:23:39Z

Jyoti at 20:14, 18 November 2016

2016-11-18T20:14:32Z

Jyoti: /* The verdict */

2016-11-18T20:10:10Z

‎The verdict

Jyoti: /* The case, in brief */

2016-11-18T20:05:19Z

‎The case, in brief

Jyoti at 19:57, 18 November 2016

2016-11-18T19:57:54Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 10 December 2016
Line 208:		Line 208:

	The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.		The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.
−
−	~~==Arrested in December 2016==~~
−	~~[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Tyagi-Arrest-Puts-Cong-In-Corner-Again-10122016009017 ''The Times of India''], Dec 10 2016~~
−
−	~~'''Tyagi Arrest Puts Cong In Corner Again'''~~
−
−	It may be just a coincidence. But the timing of former IAF chief S P Tyagi's arrest and the filing of the chargesheet against Dayanid hi Maran, com munications minister in the UPA governy help amplify the ment, may help amplify the Modi regime's “anti-corruption“ theme, while putting the focus on corruption during the decade-long rule of the Congress-led coalition.
−
−	The first-ever arrest of a chief of any of the three services coincides with the Modi government's risky gamble on demonetisation. PM Modi has framed the invalidation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as a fight against corruption and terrorism, and has appealed to people to put up with the hardship for the sake of the larger cause. Modi would flaunt his success in ensuring that there was no scam on his watch predemonetisation too. He has raised the pitch significantly higher with the November 8 decision, even accusing opponents of demonetisation of siding with the corrupt who held hoards of illegal cash.
−
−	The twin moves on Friday will give Modi more ammunition, especially against Congress, which paid a heavy penalty for the mega scams under UPA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and continues to struggle against the rampant perception of it giving corruption a free rein.
−
−	The skirmishes in Parliament have seen BJP and se nior ministers frequently putting the spotlight on corruption under UPA to rebut Congress's claim that demonetisation would not help achieve Modi's avowed objec tive of fighting corruption and black money .
−
−	Tyagi's arrest for alleged ly taking bribes for a deal signed under Manmohan Singh, and Maran's chargesh eeting will make the task of repairing the damage that much more difficult. The former IAF chief has earned the notorious distinction of being the first service chief to have been arrested, but the charge against Maran -that he got the public sector BSNL to set up a mini telephone exchange at his Chennai residence to feed his family-owned TV channel gratis -is no less striking.
−
−	Especially because there are strong indications that the two decisions could be part of the procession of cases of corruption dating to UPA's tenure that have ripened, with the CBI reaching the stage of filing chargesheets and making arrests.
−
−	Sources said former CBI chief Anil Sinha had ordered that the probe in all cases of high-level corruption be fast tracked. In the Agusta Westland case, he instructed investigators to focus on bribes rather than getting obsessed with correctness or otherwise of the procedure followed in sourcing helicopters for the VIP squadron -a precaution that was seen as essential to dodge the fate of the investigation into allegations that bribes influenced the Rajiv Gandhi government's decision to buy Bofors howitzers in the 1980s.
−
−	BJP sources stressed that the CBI's moves should be read along with Modi's announcement that he would follow through on demonetisation by unearthing benami properties, and by tracing the `source' of funds that have flowed into Jan Dhan accounts.
−
−	BJP welcomed the CBI's move to arrest Tyagi on Friday , saying that the agency , called a caged parrot by the Supreme Court during the Congress regime, had finally found teeth under NDA. “BJP is confident that the political beneficiaries of the AgustaWestland scam will also be brought to book,“ party secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said.

	=Christian Michel=		=Christian Michel=

@@ Line 209: / Line 209: @@
 The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.
-==Arrested==
+==Arrested in December 2016==
 [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Tyagi-Arrest-Puts-Cong-In-Corner-Again-10122016009017 ''The Times of India''], Dec 10 2016

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:39, 10 December 2016
Line 208:		Line 208:

	The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.		The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.
		+
		+	==Arrested==
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Tyagi-Arrest-Puts-Cong-In-Corner-Again-10122016009017 ''The Times of India''], Dec 10 2016
		+
		+	'''Tyagi Arrest Puts Cong In Corner Again'''
		+
		+	It may be just a coincidence. But the timing of former IAF chief S P Tyagi's arrest and the filing of the chargesheet against Dayanid hi Maran, com munications minister in the UPA governy help amplify the ment, may help amplify the Modi regime's “anti-corruption“ theme, while putting the focus on corruption during the decade-long rule of the Congress-led coalition.
		+
		+	The first-ever arrest of a chief of any of the three services coincides with the Modi government's risky gamble on demonetisation. PM Modi has framed the invalidation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as a fight against corruption and terrorism, and has appealed to people to put up with the hardship for the sake of the larger cause. Modi would flaunt his success in ensuring that there was no scam on his watch predemonetisation too. He has raised the pitch significantly higher with the November 8 decision, even accusing opponents of demonetisation of siding with the corrupt who held hoards of illegal cash.
		+
		+	The twin moves on Friday will give Modi more ammunition, especially against Congress, which paid a heavy penalty for the mega scams under UPA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and continues to struggle against the rampant perception of it giving corruption a free rein.
		+
		+	The skirmishes in Parliament have seen BJP and se nior ministers frequently putting the spotlight on corruption under UPA to rebut Congress's claim that demonetisation would not help achieve Modi's avowed objec tive of fighting corruption and black money .
		+
		+	Tyagi's arrest for alleged ly taking bribes for a deal signed under Manmohan Singh, and Maran's chargesh eeting will make the task of repairing the damage that much more difficult. The former IAF chief has earned the notorious distinction of being the first service chief to have been arrested, but the charge against Maran -that he got the public sector BSNL to set up a mini telephone exchange at his Chennai residence to feed his family-owned TV channel gratis -is no less striking.
		+
		+	Especially because there are strong indications that the two decisions could be part of the procession of cases of corruption dating to UPA's tenure that have ripened, with the CBI reaching the stage of filing chargesheets and making arrests.
		+
		+	Sources said former CBI chief Anil Sinha had ordered that the probe in all cases of high-level corruption be fast tracked. In the Agusta Westland case, he instructed investigators to focus on bribes rather than getting obsessed with correctness or otherwise of the procedure followed in sourcing helicopters for the VIP squadron -a precaution that was seen as essential to dodge the fate of the investigation into allegations that bribes influenced the Rajiv Gandhi government's decision to buy Bofors howitzers in the 1980s.
		+
		+	BJP sources stressed that the CBI's moves should be read along with Modi's announcement that he would follow through on demonetisation by unearthing benami properties, and by tracing the `source' of funds that have flowed into Jan Dhan accounts.
		+
		+	BJP welcomed the CBI's move to arrest Tyagi on Friday , saying that the agency , called a caged parrot by the Supreme Court during the Congress regime, had finally found teeth under NDA. “BJP is confident that the political beneficiaries of the AgustaWestland scam will also be brought to book,“ party secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said.

	=Christian Michel=		=Christian Michel=

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 [[Category:Crime |A ]]
-=The case, in brief=
+=In a nutshell=
 [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=When-Choppers-Flew-Under-The-National-Radar-08052016010005 ''The Times of India''], May 8, 2016
@@ Line 69: / Line 149: @@
 The company later broke up into four groups. O P Khaitan's law firm tried to establish itself as one that facilitated quick and smooth work for foreign firms looking to get a toehold in India. Khaitan stands accused of forming a chain of companies, like IDS Tunisia, along with Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke for routing the AgustaWestland bribe money to India. Investigators had recov ered a yellow dairy from his house that contained names in code of those who were paid the bribes. He was arrested in 2014 and chargesheeted.
 =The verdict=

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:28, 18 November 2016
Line 129:		Line 129:

	The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.		The CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and “with his approval“, the IAF “conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier“.
		+
		+	=Christian Michel=
		+	[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/VVIP-chopper-scam-Christian-Michel-the-man-who-flew-away-with-Rs-330-crore/articleshow/52004566.cms ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	Manu Pubby
		+
		+	Apr 27, 2016
		+
		+	'''VVIP chopper scam: Christian Michel - the man who flew away with Rs 330 crore'''
		+
		+
		+	A large portion of the money paid by AgustaWestland to Michel is "completely disproportionate" to the work he did for the company — that's how the Milan Court of Appeals describes a man Indian investigators have been seeking. Interpol issued a red corner notice against Michel on India's request in December 2015.
		+
		+	Italian prosecutors had argued that Michel and Guido Hashke, a Swiss-Italian national, worked together to influence Indian officials to pick Agusta's choppers. Michel got plenty of attention in the court judgement, although Italian authorities had not cross-examined him.
		+	The court, which has held that the Agusta sale involved corruption, has devoted a full chapter to Michel in its judgement. Italian prosecutors alleged Michel was a key player in the VVIP chopper deal. Michel could not be contacted by ET. He had earlier issued statements on his willingness to cooperate with investigators in return for immunity from prosecution.
		+
		+	The Milan court has noted that Michel was paid over 44 million euros by AgustaWestland for various contracts, which included a deal to supply spare parts for Indian naval helicopters and a post-contract service deal for the VVIP chopper contract.
		+
		+	The judgement said the description of his work for the contracts — which included a 6 million euro post-service contract for VVIP choppers — was "vague" and "completely disproportionate to the large amount of fees paid to him".
		+	Michel had a 18.2 million euro contract to buy back discarded WG 30 choppers from India, a 6 million euro deal for servicing VVIP choppers and a 12 million euro contract to supply spares and parts for naval choppers.
		+
		+	The court said the servicing contract awarded by Agusta to Michel cannot be fully explained. "With respect to the 'postcontract award service agreement', the defence tried to enhance its relevance but it is sufficient to mention the results of investigations — even internal — which found that, against the large consideration agreed (euros 6,050,0000 total), it has produced only some periodic 'reports' (moreover, 'of poor quality') while none of the other commitments expected from the contract appears to have been fulfilled..."
		+	The court noted that an internal assessment of the group by PwC London had also raised doubts on these contracts.
		+	The judgement notes: "The doubts of the external auditors pertained to the opacity of the transaction (to buy back choppers), which it was suspected was hiding prohibited consultancies under the 'Integrity Pact', while about the second they had asked for clarification about its validity, since it was about Michel's companies' assistance in the phase of aircraft delivery, but although the aircraft had not yet been delivered (they would be only at the beginning of 2013) the payments had already begun".

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 [[File: AgustaWestland helicopters and India.jpg| AgustaWestland helicopters and India ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_018_048_010&type=P&artUrl=CBI-Asks-Interpol-To-Arrest-Copter-Deal-Middleman-27042016018048&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016|frame|500px]]
-[[File: The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010: salient points.jpg| The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010, salient points; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_001_032_013&type=P&artUrl=Italian-court-verdict-gives-BJP-ammo-to-gun-27042016001032&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016|frame|500px]]
+[[File: The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010- salient points.jpg| The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010, salient points; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_001_032_013&type=P&artUrl=Italian-court-verdict-gives-BJP-ammo-to-gun-27042016001032&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016|frame|500px]]
 {| Class="wikitable"

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:14, 18 November 2016
Line 4:		Line 4:

	[[File: AgustaWestland helicopters and India.jpg\| AgustaWestland helicopters and India ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_018_048_010&type=P&artUrl=CBI-Asks-Interpol-To-Arrest-Copter-Deal-Middleman-27042016018048&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016\|frame\|500px]]		[[File: AgustaWestland helicopters and India.jpg\| AgustaWestland helicopters and India ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_018_048_010&type=P&artUrl=CBI-Asks-Interpol-To-Arrest-Copter-Deal-Middleman-27042016018048&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016\|frame\|500px]]
		+
		+	[[File: The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010: salient points.jpg\| The AgustaWestland helicopter deal of 2010, salient points; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=27_04_2016_001_032_013&type=P&artUrl=Italian-court-verdict-gives-BJP-ammo-to-gun-27042016001032&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016\|frame\|500px]]

	{\| Class="wikitable"		{\| Class="wikitable"

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 =The verdict=
 [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Italy-papers-reveal-dalals-links-to-netas-military-27042016018038 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016
 The judgment of the Milan Court of Appeals in the VVIP chopper deal reveals a big nexus of middlemen and so-called defence consultants who had easy access to politicians, bureaucrats and military brass in India and Italy.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 18 November 2016
Line 67:		Line 67:

	The company later broke up into four groups. O P Khaitan's law firm tried to establish itself as one that facilitated quick and smooth work for foreign firms looking to get a toehold in India. Khaitan stands accused of forming a chain of companies, like IDS Tunisia, along with Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke for routing the AgustaWestland bribe money to India. Investigators had recov ered a yellow dairy from his house that contained names in code of those who were paid the bribes. He was arrested in 2014 and chargesheeted.		The company later broke up into four groups. O P Khaitan's law firm tried to establish itself as one that facilitated quick and smooth work for foreign firms looking to get a toehold in India. Khaitan stands accused of forming a chain of companies, like IDS Tunisia, along with Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke for routing the AgustaWestland bribe money to India. Investigators had recov ered a yellow dairy from his house that contained names in code of those who were paid the bribes. He was arrested in 2014 and chargesheeted.
		+
		+
		+	=The verdict=
		+	[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Italy-papers-reveal-dalals-links-to-netas-military-27042016018038 ''The Times of India''], April 27, 2016
		+
		+	The judgment of the Milan Court of Appeals in the VVIP chopper deal reveals a big nexus of middlemen and so-called defence consultants who had easy access to politicians, bureaucrats and military brass in India and Italy.
		+
		+	The order also shows that middlemen dropped names of politicians on both sides, suggesting influence up to the top, and their conviction that the right connections were essential in landing the deal.
		+
		+	The judgment lists taped conversations, handwritten notes by accused and statements to Italian prosecutors of European middlemen Christian Michel, Guido Haschke and Peter Hullet, the then India head of AgustaWestland.One handwritten note in particular provides an estimate of expenditure in paying In dian officials for swinging the Rs 3,600 crore deal in favour of AgustaWestland.
		+
		+	The handwritten note of Michel, using abbreviations for names of Indian officials and designations, says the IAF was allotted 6 million euros and the bureaucracy , including defence ministry officials, were to be allotted 8.4 million euros. The note differentiates the designation of bureaucrats like DG (acquisitions), defence secretary (DS) and joint secretary (JS).
		+
		+	Among others whom Mi chel spoke of in terms of making payments for a `share' of kickbacks include a category called `POL' (politicians) -where 3 million euros were earmarked for a person identified as `AP', while 15-16 million euros were shown against `FAM' (allegedly family of a top IAF officer).
		+
		+	The judgment also lists a conversation where Michel discusses Congress members.“As Mrs Gandhi is the driving force behind the VIP , she will not fly any more in the Mi-8 (the Russian-origin helicopters the President, PM and other VVIPs currently use),“ says the note. It identifies her “key advisers“ as “Manmohan Singh, Ahmed Patel, Pranab Mukherjee, M Veerappa Moily , Oscar Fernandes, M K Narayanan and Vinay Singh“.
		+
		+	Even though the trial didn't deal with corruption charge against IAF ex-chief S P Tyagi, it observed that his specific act of allegedly favouring AgustaWestland is contrary to his duty and constituted “wrongfulness of his conduct“ for cooperating with the company . The judgment listed details of meetings and conversations between AgustaWestland officials and Tyagi on several occasions, as produced by Italian prosecutors.

	=No proof that any politician took bribe: Italy judge=		=No proof that any politician took bribe: Italy judge=

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[File: Agusta Westland, a series of events, in brief.jpg|Agusta Westland, a series of events, in brief; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=29_04_2016_015_037_009&type=P&artUrl=Lekhi-expresses-concern-over-Agustas-media-management-29042016015037&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 29, 2016|frame|500px]]
 [[File: Finmeccanica’s position in India with reference to the Agusta controversy.jpg| Finmeccanica’s position in India with reference to the Agusta controversy ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=28_04_2016_013_031_009&type=P&artUrl=Finmeccanica-is-not-blacklisted-yet-but-fresh-deals-28042016013031&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], April 28, 2016|frame|500px]]
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