AgustaWestland: Bhushan & Yadav claim to have new information; indict Chattisgarh CM in scam

In the latest expose in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan have made claims that 'a virtual single vendor situation' was created for AgustaWestland dragging Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in the controversial chopper scam. Bhushan also repeated his previous comments about CM Raman Singh's son Abhishek having offshore investments.

Bhushan claimed no global tender was called for the chopper deal and no efforts were made to find out about other firms that make and supply choppers.

He said that the Cabinet decided in February 2007 that choppers would be bought from Sharp Ocean after they received a letter from AgustaWestland which read that AgustaWestland will not be able to provide the choppers within the deadline, therefore, choppers can be bought from AgustaWestland's dealer Sharp Ocean.

According to Supreme Court lawyer Bhushan, Sharp Ocean is a British Virgin Islands registered company and is headquartered in Hong Kong.

CAG mentioned in its report that in the VVIP chopper deal, Chhattisgarh government made payments of Rs 64 lakh to the company. The Chattisgarh government Public Accounts Committee also probed the case and found that payments were made due to delay in finalising the contracts, leading to escalation of price, reported Pradesh 18.

The BJP has claimed that these allegations are baseless and politically motivated.