By IANS,
New Delhi : As Italy widens its anti-graft investigations to include the $800-million deal India signed with AgustaWestland for VVIP helicopters, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday asked officials to “look into” the issue and submit a report at the earliest.
“The minister has asked Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma to look into the matter, as reported in the Italian media, and to submit a report at the earliest,” ministry officials told reporters here.
India had signed the deal in 2010 for 12 AW101 helicopters for ferrying the president, prime minister and other VVIPs in style and with the best of security.
The Italian attorney general’s office began an investigation last year into allegations of unethical dealing by AgustaWestland’s mother company Finmeccanica, the country’s defence major.