Antony: I feel ashamed about AugustaWestland 'scam'

Defence minister AK Antony said today that anyone involved in the AugustaWestland helicopter deal won't go without paying a price and that the government will not cover up anything in the controversial VVIP helicopter deal.

Defence minister AK Antony said on Wednesday that anyone involved in the AugustaWestland helicopter deal won't go without paying a price and that the government will not cover up anything in the controversial VVIP helicopter deal.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha Antony said, "We will not cover up; whoever is responsible will have to bear serious consequences."

He also said that the Govt ordered inquiry as soon as the scam came to light and the goverment will go to the root of the issue.

"As defence minister I feel ashamed of this scandal," he said.

The defence minister also said that he did not believe a denial from Finmeccanica unit AgustaWestland that it paid any bribes to swing a $750 million chopper deal.

Antony said the company had responded to a show cause notice demanding an explanation of accusations by Italian prosecutors that millions of euros in kickbacks were paid before the deal was clinched.

"They have replied. They have denied the whole thing. We don't believe it," Antony said during a parliamentary debate.

(With Reuters inputs)