New Delhi: In a fresh revelation regarding the ongoing AgustaWestland row, it has now been given away that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) had hung the proceedings of the case in close storage, citing pressure from authorities above them. This information has been disclosed in a secret note of government.
The note further revealed that CBI kept the copy of FIR with itself for six months and didn’t forward it to ED to further the proceedings.
On the other hand, ED, on receiving the copy didn’t take the necessary steps that could have helped in resolving the entire case.
The impact of the row over alleged kickbacks in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal has been witnessed in Parliament and the impact is now visible on other activities proposed by the company in India as well.
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board has deferred a decision on increase in FDI in the Italian firm's joint venture with Tata Sons.
Indian Rotorcraft, a joint venture of AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) and Tata Sons for setting up an assembly line for the AW119Ke helicopter, had sought post-facto approval of the FIPB for increased FDI inflow of Rs 19.64 crore as against Rs 17.6 crore approved in September 2011.
Besides the increased FDI inflow, it had also sought approval for "change of the foreign investor from AgustaWestland S.p.A, Italy to Finmeccanica S.p.A by way of merger of AgustaWestland S.p.A, Italy into Finmeccanica S.p.A."
