The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday demanded to know which Congress leaders accepted bribes in the VVIP chopper scam involving the purchase of 12 helicopters from manufacturer AgustaWestland. As those who offered bribes had been convicted by an Italian court, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the then defence minister AK Antony must reveal the names of Congress leaders who had allegedly taken bribes, PTI reported.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had refused to share crucial documents and displayed “substantial disregard” in arriving at the truth behind the Rs 3,565-crore scandal, the Italian Court of Appeals in Milan had observed earlier. While addressing a press conference, Prasad quoted from the court order and said “10 to 15 million dollars had made way to Indian officials”. He added that Antony had said in March 2013 that there was corruption involved in the purchase of 12 VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland.
Furthermore, the minister accused the UPA government of hindering the Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the scam. He also indicated that the BJP was strategising to intensify its attack on the Congress in Parliament over the chopper scandal.
The UPA government had signed an agreement with AgustaWestland to buy 12 helicopters to transport VVIPs. However, the deal fell through following reports in Italy that the company had bribed Indian officials to get the deal. The CBI began its investigation into the case in 2013.
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