New Delhi: Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan, one of the accused in the multi-crore Agusta-Westland helicopter deal, told interrogators on Wednesday that he was “instrumental” in setting up IDS (Tunisia), a subsidiary of IDS (India), that has been named in the original FIR filed by the CBI.
It is learnt that CBI sleuths asked certain specific questions from Mr Khaitan in front of the former IAF chief during their questioning. As far Mr Khaitan’s questioning is concerned, a source said: “The focus of questioning was his alleged links with Italian middlemen Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke.”
Sources claimed Mr Khaitan only admitted setting up the company and not any alleged transfer of funds through it. IDS Tunisia is a subsidiary of IDS India. The company was one of many through which the alleged bribes were routed by middlemen from Agusta-Westland to other countries, sources said.
Meanwhile, Italian judge Marco Maria Maiga, who delivered Agusta order, told a TV news channel that while his trial focused on the Italian bribe-givers for the helicopter deal with Delhi, “my judgment does not give a clean chit to Indian politicians... It is up to India to now follow up on investigating its (own) politicians”.
