VVIP Chopper scam: ED arrests businessman Gautam Khaitan
This is the first arrest made in the money-laundering investigation.
On Monday, the ED searched two premises of Khaitan in Delhi.
According to reports, the agency found jewellery and important financial documents from his premises.
Khaitan, who is also an advocate, was on the board of a Chandigarh-based company, Aeromatrix which is among 21 entities named in a criminal case registered in July.
The company was allegedly a front used for routing funds.
Khaitan's name appeared in the Italian prosecutor's report filed in a court in Italy.
The UPA government in January cancelled the Rs. 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal with Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland owned by Italy's Finmeccanica in view of bribery allegations.
The company was roped in to supply 12 helicopters for VVIPs and out of these AgustaWestland has already delivered three.
AgustaWestland had been accused of bribery charges in the Rs. 3600-crore VVIP chopper deal with Indian defence department.
The company had denied all charges of paying kickbacks.
Besides bribing Indian officials for a 12-helicopter deal, Finmeccanica discussed kickbacks for a larger deal with a serving Brigadier in the Indian Army, an inquiry by Italian prosecutors had said.
The report by the investigators had said that an alleged middleman for helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland was seen touching the feet of former Air Force chief SP Tyagi.
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