VVIP chopper scam: Why some journalists are under CBI, ED scanner

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is not the only one who is embroiled in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, several Indian journalists are also under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the case, OneIndia reported on Friday. 

According to a India.com report, Finmeccanica, the parent firm of AgustaWestland, had invited a group of Indian journalists to Italy in 2013. The report adds that the very journalist who allegedly unearthed the scandal "was also part of the delegate of journalists who went on the fully paid trip".

According to reports, the trip was arranged by British businessman and alleged middleman in the deal James Christian Michel. 

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, according to the OneIndia report, plan to question the journalists who attended the junket to "unearth more clues on the money trail" and also their relationship with Michel.

The scam revolving around payment of bribes to secure an Indian contract for twelve AW-101 helicopters, worth euro 556 million (currently Rs 4,195 crore), might also involve journalists who received kickbacks in return for directing the media narrative in favour of AgustaWestland's bid. 

According to a News18 report, Michel was paid from 2010-2012 to "monitor and manage" Indian media.

The News18 report cited a document stating that Michel was hired to identify and inform the company about any "hostile" press activity which could impact its bid and advise the company on how to mitigate the impact of such media coverage. 

According to a report filed by Italian investigators in an Italian court, the middlemen, including Michel, had agreed for a 7.5% commission in the deal.

The report revealed that Giuseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini, then-CEOs of Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland, respectively, had paid 30 million Euros (Rs 217 crore) to Michel.