FIR against Punjab ex-MLA’s NRI father

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday issued a look-out circular against Non-Resident Indian (NRI) arms dealer Vipin Khanna to prevent him from leaving the country following the registration of an FIR against him in connection with the Embraer deal.

The agency named Khanna along with two companies — Brazil-based Embraer and Singapore-based Interdev Pte Ltd — in the FIR. His two assets — a house in Greater Kailash area and a farm house at the outskirts of Delhi — and a locker at Arbindo Marg were also searched after the registration of the FIR.

Khanna’s son, Arvind, was a Congress MLA from Dhuri in Punjab till last year. He was expelled from the party for resigning from the assembly. The agency also searched Arvind’s flat in Vasant Kunj area in connection with the case.

The CBI had first registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) on September 16 on a reference from the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), requesting the agency to enquire into the allegations of the use of an agent for facilitating the contract for three fully modified Embraer-145 aircraft.

The aircraft were to be used for mounting an airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system on them, which is basically an airborne radar designed to detect aircraft, ships and vehicles at long ranges. The total deal was worth USD 208 million.

The agency in its FIR alleged that kickbacks worth $5.76 million were allegedly routed from subsidiaries of Embraer to Khanna through Interdev. Khanna has also faced CBI probes –in a gun deal involving South African company Denel, which was later closed for lack of evidence.