ED arrests head of Dubai-based firms

PROBE AGENCY HAS CLAIMED ACCUSED’S FIRMS WERE USED TO ROUTE BRIBE MONEY IN THE ₹3,726CR SCAM

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested the director of two Dubai-based companies in connection with its probe into the ₹3,726-crore Agusta-Westland chopper scam case.

The probe agency has claimed that the Dubai-based firms, headed by Shivani Saxena, were allegedly used to route the bribe money.

“She is an active director of UHY Saxena, Dubai, and Matrix Holdings, through which proceeds have been routed and further layered and integrated in buying immovable assets and shares,” the ED said in a statement.

According to the economic intelligence agency, Shivani is the wife of Rajeev Shamsher Bahadur Saxena, a resident of Palm Jumeira in Dubai.

The ED probe has so far revealed that AgustaWestland International Ltd, UK, allegedly paid 58 million Euros as kickbacks to politicians and military officials through Gordian Servi- ces Sarl, Tunisia, and IDS Sarl, Tunisia .

“These companies further siphoned off the said money in the name of consultancy contracts to Interstellar Technologies Ltd., Mauritius, and others. The funds were further transferred to Dubai-based UHY Saxena, Matrix Holdings Ltd and others,” the probe agency’s statement further said.

The ED alleges that Shivani’s husband is a beneficial owner of Interstellar Technologies Ltd., Mauritius. The two are partners/directors in UHY Saxena and Matrix Holdings Limited.

“Both these companies received proceeds of crime in their respective Dubai bank accounts from M/s Interstellar Technologies Ltd. Mauritius,” the Enforcement Directorate further said.