'Instant trial' requested for ex-Finmeccanica CEO Orsi

Italian prosecutors today sought an "instant" trial for Giuseppe Orsi, the former CEO of state-controlled defence giant Finmeccanica in connection with alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal with India.

"Italian prosecutors requested an instant trial - without going through any preliminary hearings," Italian news agency ANSA reported. Orsi was arrested in February this year.

The Indian Defence Ministry has ordered a CBI probe into the allegations of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 362 crore after the arrest of Orsi and AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini by Italian investigators in connection with the case.

Orsi was at the helm of AugustaWestland when the deal was struck and he is suspected of involvement in the payment of bribes.

Prosecutors suspect that around 50 million euros (Rs 362 crore approximately), about 10 per cent of the deal, were ploughed back into kickbacks to ensure AgustaWestland won the contract.

In February 2010, India had inked the deal to acquire the 12 three-engine AW-101 helicopters from AgustaWestland for VVIP use.

The first three of the 12 AgustaWestland VVIP choppers have already arrived in India and the rest were expected in the coming months.

The Indian government has however put on hold the delivery of rest of the choppers.