CBI to access chopper deal recordings

The CBI will get access to crucial phone conversations and documents of the AgustaWestland deal from the Italian prosecutors within two weeks, after a court in Milan passed an order in this regard on Wednesday, sources said, Rajesh Ahuja reports.

The CBI will get access to crucial phone conversations and documents of the AgustaWestland deal from the Italian prosecutors within two weeks, after a court in Milan passed an order in this regard on Wednesday, sources said.

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Besides, the Italian court has also agreed to make the CBI a civil party in the trial against executives of AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica on charges of paying bribes for the Rs 3600-crore VVIP chopper deal with India.

In the phone conversations recorded by Italian investigators, the accused discuss the bribe payments to be made to the Indian contacts.

A team consisting of a joint secretary in the ministry of defence and a superintendent of police from the CBI has been in Milan to attend the trial which started on Wednesday.

“The CBI on Wednesday passed a favourable order on the application of the CBI that sought to make it a party in the trial. The court also asked the Italian prosecutors to hand over case documents and phone conversations to the CBI,” said a CBI source.