AgustaWestland: Court to record Rajiv Saxena's statement on March 5

A Delhi court on Saturday said the statement of Dubai-based businessman Rajiv Saxena, who wants to become an approver in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, will be recorded on March 5.

Saxena appeared before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, who has fixed March 5 for the recording of his statement.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has told the court that it will respond to Saxena's plea after taking note of his statement.

Meanwhile, Saxena told the court that he was not under any pressure and wanted to become an approver willingly.

In his application to the court, Saxena said he has cooperated in the investigation and disclosed the facts as known to him.

He said he would make full disclosure of the case, if he was granted pardon.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) security agencies picked up Saxena from his Dubai residence on January 30 and extradited him to India the same night.

He was granted bail on medical grounds on Monday. The ED did not oppose his bail application.

According to the ED, in connivance with lawyer Gautam Khaitan, Saxena provided a global corporate structure to launder money for payment to various political leaders, bureaucrats and Indian Air Force (IAF) officials to influence the contract for supplying 12 VVIP helicopters in favour of AgustaWestland.

--IANS

akk/ksk/bg