ED arrests defense agent Sushen Gupta in VVIP choppers case
What's the story
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a defense agent from Delhi in the Rs. 3,600 crore VVIP choppers deal case, officials said today.
They said Sushen Mohan Gupta was arrested late yesterday by agency sleuths under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Gupta, they said, has allegedly dealt in defense deals, including the AgustaWestland helicopters deal.
Read the details here.
Arrest
Gupta's role came into light after Rajiv Saxena turned approver
Gupta will be produced before a special PMLA court in New Delhi today.
Lawyer Gautam Khaitan and alleged British middleman Christian Michel were earlier arrested by the ED in the case.
The ED officials said Gupta's role in the case came to light on the basis of disclosures made by Rajiv Saxena, who has recently turned approver in the case.
Role
Gupta suspected to have payment details in VVIP choppers' purchase
Saxena turned approver in the case after he was deported from the UAE and arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the national capital.
It is suspected that Gupta has in his possession some payment details in the purchase of VVIP choppers and the link is to be unraveled, said the officials.
He has, hence, been arrested, they said.
Background
India scrapped contract with AgustaWestland over breach of contractual obligations
On 1st January 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary, AgustaWestland, for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force over an alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs. 423 crore by it for securing the deal.
The CBI and the ED have filed multiple charge sheets in the case.
Information
Tyagi is the first IAF-chief to be chargesheeted by CBI
The CBI and the ED had also named former IAF chief S P Tyagi and his family members as accused besides others. Tyagi (72) is the first IAF chief to be chargesheeted by the CBI in a criminal or a corruption case.