AgustaWestland Chopper Deal | Burning Issues

Table of Contents

CHRISTIAN MICHEL’S EXTRADITION

Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in politicallysensitive Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal, was extradited to India from UAE He was produced before a Delhi court and sent to five-day CBI custody. The operation code-named ‘Unicorn’ was carried out under the guidance of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and being coordinated by interim CBI Director M Nageswar Rao

CHRISTIAN MICHEL

BASICS

India still largest arms importer, spent more than $100 b in last 10 years: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Russia, the country’s top arms supplier, accounted for 62% India’s arms imports in 2013–17, followed by the US (15%) and Israel (11%), the report said

TIMELINE

1999
The then NDA government approves the procurement of eight VVIP helicopters.
2004 – 2005 (some contradiction over year)
March 1, 2005, the NSA chaired a meeting. It was agreed that the ceiling be reduced to 4,500 and the cabin height to 1.8 metres. Qualitative Requirements (QR) were finalised on May 9, 2005 (in) a meeting chaired by the Defence Secretary.

TIMELINE

2005

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government then in power increased the number of choppers from 8 to 12. Four were added for non-VVIP travel.

2010

The UPA government enters into a Rs.3,546 crore deal with AgustaWestland to ferry VVIPs.

AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland (branded as Leonardo Helicopters since January 2016) was a helicopter design and manufacturing company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leonardo S.p.A. (previously Finmeccanica).

TIMELINE

2012

First three of 12 helicopters arrive in India. · Initial reports of kickback appear in the media.

2013
In February, Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi is arrested for alleged payoffs by the Italian police. · The central bureau of investigation (CBI) begins inquiry into alleged kickbacks. The inquiry included former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi among suspects. · The Enforcement Directorate begins probing the chopper deal. · The Indian Express in March 2013 reports that the contracts show that millions of euros were paid to alleged middlemen Christian Michel and Guido Haschke for the deal, through banks in Dubai, Italy and Switzerland. Italian investigators have referred to these contracts, among others, to allege that kickbacks worth at least 10% of the Rs.3,546 crore deal were paid.

2013

The UPA government moves a motion in Parliament to form a joint parliamentary committee to inquire the bribe allegations.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) sends its draft report to the government for comments.
Government initiates the process of terminating the contract with AgustaWestland

INDIAN AIR FORCE CHIEF

In April 2016, an Italian court said there was “reasonable belief that corruption took place” in the 2010 VVIP helicopter deal and that former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi was involved. Following necessary investigations, he was arrested by CBI on 9 December 2016. In December 2016, Italy’s Highest Court ordered a retrial of the case. In January 2018, the Italian courts said there was “insufficient proof that any bribery took place” and acquitted Giussepe Orsi (ex CEO) and Bruno Spagnolini (head of helicopter division) of all charges.

WHO IS CHRISTIAN MICHEL?

Christian Michel James is the key accused in the VVIP chopper deal case. Michel is a popular British consultant who was allegedly hired by AgustaWestland to influence top ranking officials in Indian Airforce and the UPA government to help secure the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the company.

IS CHRISTEN MICHEL THE ONLY MIDDLEMAN IN THE CASE?

Michel is one of the three main accused fixers in the case. The others are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa who are also being probed by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED)

HOW DID CONGRESS AND BJP COME INTO THE CHRISTIAN MICHEL CASE?

Gandhi’s were brought into the case after a handwritten note was recovered from the possession of the other middleman Guido Haschke, where certain payment was mentioned against the word “family”. Michel has termed this note to be fake and Congress blamed the BJP-led central government of using the central probe agencies to “target the Gandhis and tarnish the image of the opposition”.