AgustaWestland scam: Fresh searches by CBI

Meanwhile, the agency has also submitted its request to the External Affairs Ministry to seek extradition of Guido Haschke, a Swiss-Italian middlemen who is an accused in the case, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said here today.

Haschke was recently arrested by Italian authorities on the basis of a Red Corner Notice issued on the request of the Enforcement Directorate but was reportedly let go by the Italian court as the two countries do not have extradition treaty.

Taking its probe further, after filing charge sheet in the case on September 1, the agency carried out searches at three places in Delhi and three locations in Kolkata at the premises of businessmen Sunil Kothari and N K Jain on October 31.

The searches continued till late yesterday evening, sources said.

While the searches at Kothari's residence in Sainik Farms here and the premises of his company--Om Metals Pvt Ltd resulted in seizure of Rs 55.68 lakh in cash, those at Jain's residence in Kolkata resulted in seizure of Rs 29 lakh cash, Dayal said.

Searches were also carried at the office of Jain's company Abhinandan Vanijya and his associate Rajesh Jain.

The CBI sources said a portion of bribe money received by Sanjeev Tyagi and Khaitan in cash was allegedly laundered through shell companies to transfer the amount to Jain and Kothari who turning it into white money.

The agency has alleged that a group of middlemen, including Sanjeev Tyagi, Khaitan, Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke, brought 22 million euros to India in cash, the sources said.

Using shell companies, the bribe was distributed to various peeople who could have influenced the decisions in favour of AgustaWestland, they said.

Dayal said the CBI teams found incriminating documents from the searches.

The agency also found lockers of Jain's wife and daughter-in-law which led to seizure of RS 60 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 49 lakh.

The amount of bribe received from Julie and Khaitan and further laundered is yet to be established.

The agency has alleged in its charge sheet filed on September 1 that bribes of over 62 million euros were paid by AgustaWestland to clinch the deal for the the supply of 12 VVIP helicopters worth over Rs 3700 crore.