CBI to quiz suspects in chopper deal case

After surmounting the hurdle of filing a formal probe in the VVIP chopper deal case, the CBI is now all set to quiz suspects besides seeking relevant documents from them.

After surmounting the hurdle of filing a formal probe in the VVIP chopper deal case, the CBI is now all set to quiz suspects besides seeking relevant documents from them.

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But it will not be an exhaustive inquiry as the agency will limit itself to the examination of bare minimum persons as mandated in its manual.

The agency registered a preliminary enquiry on Monday in the Rs. 3600-crore chopper deal to probe charges of kickbacks to the tune of R370 crore to middlemen in the garb of fake software and engineering contracts. The agency named former air chief SP Tyagi, his three cousins and 11 others as suspects in the case.

According to CBI manual, when a complaint is received or information is available which may, after verification, indicate serious misconduct on the part of a public servant but is not adequate to justify registration of a regular case, a PE can be registered.

It may be converted into a regular case after sufficient information shows that prima facie there has been commission of a cognisable offence.

The manual also states that the PE relating to allegations of bribery and corruption should be limited to the scrutiny of records and interrogation of a bare minimum persons which may be necessary to judge whether there is any substance in the allegations which are being enquired into and whether the case is worth pursuing or not.