The CBI on Monday examined Praveen Bakshi, the CEO of Chandigarh-based Aeromatrix in connection with the charges of payment of kickbacks to tune of Rs. 370 crore in the VVIP helicopter deal. The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry to probe the deal in which 12 choppers for the VVIPs were to be procured from AgustaWestland. The agency has named Bakshi and his firm Aeromatrix as suspects.

According to Italian investigators, a portion of Rs. 370 crore bribe was allegedly routed to Indian nationals, via Tunisia and Mauritius, in garb of payments for engineering contracts to Chandigarh-based —IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix. Both firms had denied involvement in the bribery scandal. Another portion of kickback was routed through Christian Michel, a British national, claimed Italian investigators.  HTC