Chopper deal: Former Aeromatrix board member questioned by CBI

Gautam Khaitan, whose name appeared in Italian prosecutor's report , has refuted all allegations

CBI today questioned advocate Gautam Khaitan, former board member of Aeromatrix, in connection with the bribery allegations in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal.

CBI sources said Khaitan arrived at agency headquarters here at around 10 AM and was being examined in connection with the deal.

The agency has already questioned executives of Indian arms of Aeromatrix and IDS Infotech -- companies through which alleged bribes were routed from Mauritius and Tunisia in the garb of payments for engineering contracts.

A reference to Khaitan was made in the Italian prosecutor's report filed in a court there. However, Khaitan has refuted all the allegations.

CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against 11 persons including former IAF chief SP Tyagi.

Four companies including IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix have been named in the PE.