CBI probe should continue in AgustaWestland scam even after cancellation: Lt Gen Hoon

Retired Lieutenant General PN Hoon on Thursday said even though India has cancelled the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, there should be a CBI inquiry to expose all the wrongdoings in the deal and the people involved.

"They have tried to save themselves by cancelling the deal, but people must know who were the ones involved in it. There should be a CBI inquiry, as a lot of money was involved in the scam and had been going on for long," said Lt Gen Hoon.

"It is a very sensible decision that they have cancelled it, otherwise they could have got into a lot of trouble," he said.

"It was not a clean deal A lot of people were involved. But they should probe into this deal. They should find out how much money was involved, when did it happen, and who all were involved a lot of money was involved," he added.

India cancelled the controversial Rs. 3,600-crore contract for 12 helicopters meant for VVIPs with UK-based AgustaWestland amid allegations that deal was riddled with kickbacks on Wednesday.

The announcement came after a meeting between Defence Minister AK Antony and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday. The defence ministry has said that the "violation of a pre-contract integrity pact" led to the decision.