Noting that the contract with AgustaWestland carried an

integrity pact that bars paying of bribes or involvement of middlemen, the Defence Ministry warned of "strict action including cancellation of contract, recovery of payment, blacklisting and penal action can be taken against the vendors." It said the government is "determined to take all possible legal and administrative action against the guilty parties and accordingly has ordered a thorough probe by CBI." Giving details, the fact-sheet said the first Request for Proposal was issued in March 2002 mandating requirement of 6,000 metre (18,000 feet) flying altitude for selection of the chopper. This requirement made it clear that AgustaWestland could not participate in the deal. However, in a meeting taken by the then NSA (Brajesh Mishra), it was noted that the President and the Prime Minister have rarely made visits to places involving flying at an altitude beyond 4500 metres (15,000 feet) and it was decided to make the mandatory requirement for operational altitude 4500 meters. "The higher flying ceiling of 6000 meters, and a cabinet height of 1.8 meters could be made desirable operational requirements," it said. Mishra suggested that the then IAF Chief and Defence Secretary may jointly review the matter to draw up realistic mandatory requirements satisfying operational, security and convenience requirements of VVIPs and also set in motion a fast track process for selection and acquisition of the replacement helicopters. "In pursuance of the above directive, the Operational Requirements (ORs) were deliberated at length between IAF, NSA, SPG/PMO and Defence Ministry between March, 2005 to September, 2006 and the above indicated changes were incorporated," the Ministry fact-sheet stated. In these deliberations, the stakeholders took a decision to increase the number of choppers for VVIP duties from eight to 12. (MORE)