EMBRAER DEAL: CBI TURNS TO UK FOR INFORMATION

NEWDELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought information from the UK authorities in connection with its probe into the alleged corrupt dealings during the 2008 aircraft deal between the defence ministry and Brazilian firm Embraer.

The development has come after investigators came across evidence pointing towards an “agreement” signed in 2002-03 between Embraer and a Londonbased firm allegedly associated with NRI defence consultant Vipin Khanna, sources said.

According to the agreement, London-based firm Cleveden Limited was supposed to aid Embraer’s bid to get defence contracts, including $210 milliondeal for purchase of three Embraer-145 aircraft by India. In return, Khanna was supposed to be paid a commission.

According to sources, CBI has found out that the said agreement was then locked away in a vault in London. CBI has now sent a judicial request to UK seeking details of the agreement.

Investigations so far suggest that under the said agreement, Cleveden through Khanna was supposed to aid Embraer’s bid in getting defence contracts with a deadline set to 2005. However, when the same was not achieved there was a fall out between Khanna and Embraer.

“Probe into the 2006 oil for food scam , in which Khanna was being probed, further deteriorated their relations. But when the MOU was signed between Indian government and Embraer in 2008, Khanna demanded that the commission be paid,” a source told HT.