The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will seek an explanation from Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer on alleged kickbacks in a deal for aircraft during the UPA regime, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
Embraer in 2008 sold three EMB 145 AEW & C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft to the Indian government. The deal was worth $208 million.
"The DRDO to seek explanation and details from manufacturers of Embraer aircraft on the media reports on deal for the aircraft signed in 2008," the ministry said in a tweet.
"On receipt of information by DRDO further steps may be initiated," the tweet said.
This comes after a report in Brazilian newspaper "Folha de Sao Paulo", saying investigations have been opened by the US government to establish whether Embraer paid bribes to obtain contracts abroad.
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According to the report, the company has been under investigation by the US Justice Department since 2010 when a contract with the Dominican Republic raised the Americans' suspicions.
Since then, the investigation has widened to examine business dealings with eight more countries, including India and Saudi Arabia.
--IANS
ao/py/bg
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