The CBI officials met the Italian judge and public prosecutors, who are part of probe into alleged kickbacks paid to clear the `3,600 crore AgustaWest-land helicopter deal, in Milan on Wednesday.
Sources in the agency said, “Meeting with the Italian judge was very useful. Officials had a separate meeting with the prosecutors who probed the `3,600cr VVIP helicopter deal also”. The agency officials requested the Italian judge to provide them certified copy of the probe-related documents, including report filed by public prosecutor Eugenio Fusco, sources added.
The CBI officials, a CBI DIG and a legal adviser are part of a joint Indian team along with a senior ministry of defence official that is currently in Italy to seek legal assistance in conducting the agency’s probe.
“If required, the agency officials will meet the Italian judge again on Thursday. The CBI has also engaged two legal firms in Italy for liaisoning with the authorities to get legal assistance in probing the role of Indians in connection with the alleged kickbacks in the `3,600 crore deal,” sources said.
Sources further said Chiomenti law firm and Grippo law firm have been engaged by the CBI to help in coordinating with the Italian authorities for getting documents and other relevant material pertaining to the deal for supplying 12 helicopters to India. Chiomenti law firm was established in 1948 and has 270 attorneys in six countries, including in London. Grippo law firm with 360 attorneys has a presence in five countries, including the UK.
The legal firms will represent India’s case with the Italian government and the local courts to find out the role of Indians in the alleged `3,600-crore VVIP helicopter deal scam in which Giuseppe Orsi, the chairman of Italian air defence group Finmeccanica, was arrested there.
In February 2010, India had inked the `3,600 crore deal to acquire the 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWest-land for IAF’s elite Communication Squad-ron, which ferries the President, PM and other VVIPs.