NEW DELHI:
The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a FIR into allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent Vipin Khanna and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during UPA rule in 2008.
The agency has filed a case and named NRI defence consultant Vipin Khanna as a key accused.
The agency also carried out searches on Thursday at certain premises of Khanna and others in Delhi which led to the recovery of incriminating documents.
The agency has also registered a case against unknown officials of DRDO, Ministry of Defence; a private firm based at Embraer and its unknown officials; another private firm based in Singapore and unknown others under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 relating to procurement of three modified EMB-145 Aircraft.
It is alleged that payoffs were routed through Austria and Switzerland.
“Earlier, a Preliminary Enquiry was registered on September 16 on a reference received from the Ministry of Defence to enquire into the allegations regarding employment of an agent for facilitating the contract for AEW&C Project with CABS/DRDO for procurement of 3 fully modified EMB-145 Aircraft,”
said CBI spokesperson.
During the inquiry, the agency found that the Brazil-based firm had engaged a middleman Vipin Khanna, based in the United Kingdom. It was further alleged that as a result of mediation by Khanna, the officials of Ministry of Defence moved a proposal for purchase of three EMB-145 Aircraft from Brazil-based firm Embraer on a single vendor basis and secured the contract for supplying three EMB-145 Aircraft from Ministry of Defence.
“A purchase agreement was allegedly signed between the Brazil-based firm and DRDO, Ministry of Defence on July 3, 2008, for a supply of three modified Embraer Aircraft EMB-145 for a consideration of US$210 Million,” the official said.
The agency also alleged that in lieu of facilitating the agreement between Brazil-based firm and DRDO, the firm paid an amount of US$5.76 Million to the Khanna through Singapore-based company during 2009. “The amount of US$ 5.76 million was used by Khanna to influence the officials of Ministry of Defence for the contract to supply three EMB-145 Aircraft by Brazil-based firm,” the official said.
The agency, which had registered a preliminary inquiry in September, has converted it into a regular FIR as enough prima facie material has been found by it to proceed in the case.
A Brazilian newspaper had alleged that the company had taken the services of middlemen to clinch deals in Saudi Arabia and India. According to defence procurement rules of India, middlemen are strictly barred in such deals.
Soon after, the reports of irregularity surfaced, the DRDO has already sought a report from the Brazilian firm, which has said it has been looking into graft allegations over the last five years.
The Special Investigation Team probing AgustaWestland bribery scandal is also probed this scam.