Delhi lawyer's name surfaces in payoffs

The name of a Delhi-based lawyer has surfaced in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal that has its roots in Italy, and has triggered a political storm in the country. HT reports. Choppergate: Key players

The name of a Delhi-based lawyer has surfaced in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal that has its roots in Italy, and has triggered a political storm in the country.

HT Image

In documents filed in an Italian court, advocate Gautam Khaitan, a managing partner of law firm OP Khaitan and Company, has been identified as the alleged link who helped arms firm Finmeccanica transfer bribe money to IDS India, Aeromatrix and IDS Tunisia - companies that served as fronts for the transaction.

Khaitan has consistently maintained since Wednesday, when his name first came up for the first time, that he had nothing to do with the deal. He termed the allegations as "insinuations", and did not respond to repeated attempts by HT to contact him on Thursday.

Khaitan had conceded that he and his law firm were lawyers of Aeromatrix for "the limited purpose" of helping the company comply with rules and some other petty matters.

His profile on the law firm website showed that Khaitan, a lawyer with 21 years' experience, specialises in corporate and commercial matters.

"He has experience in a wide range of commercial and corporate transactions with particular emphasis on international corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and collaborations and investments in India and abroad".