SC issues notice to CBI, Centre on plea against AugustaWestland deal

Advocate M L Sharma has sought FIR and a court appointed probe against Indians named in an April 7 Italian court's verdict on AugustaWestland deal

A Supreme Court bench comprising judges Deepak Mishra and Shiva Kirti Singh issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Centre on a petition filed by M L Sharma seeking FIRs and a court-appointed probe against the Indians named in an Italian court’s verdict on the AgustaWestland deal.

The petition prayed for FIRs against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their alleged involvement in the VVIP chopper deal and requested for a Special Investigation Team or Central Vigilance Commission probe into the matter.

The CBI in 2013 had registered a case related to the AugustaWestland transaction where bribes were suspected to have beenhanded out to Indian officials to secure a contract to supply 12 helicopters toferry top government officials including the President and Prime Minister. 

The petitioner made an impassioned plea inpublic interest to seek investigation of the matter apprehending that the issuewould face a similar fate as the Bofors scandal if not properly overseen by theApex Court. "Action has been taken in Italyon the VVIP helicopter scam. The CEO of the company has been arrested. But noaction has been taken here. The country which would have benefited from thedeal has taken action while the country which lost money has not done anything," the petition said.