What is the AgustaWestland case?

The congress on Thursday alleged that the modi govt is trying to run a smear campaign by forcing the british middleman, Cristian Michel to frame UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the 2007 AugustaWestland helicopter deal. Here are some significant facts of the deal:

• GOI had contracted a deal to buy 12 helicopters to augment the VIP fleet of the Indian Air Force.
• The total cost of the 12 helicopters were Rs 3,546 Crore
• AgustaWestland had given a security deposit of Rs 2068 Crore
• After it was revealed that the company had paid middlemen in violation of the contract, the contract was cancelled in February, 2013
• GOI also seized the security deposit
• An investigation was ordered and the case was handed over to CBI on February 12, 2013.
• The Government by then had paid Rs 1,620 Crore to the company
• But since it had already received three of the 12 helicopters worth Rs 886 Crore, together with the security deposit confiscated, the Government more than recovered the Rs 1,620 Crore it had paid.

• In February, 2014 GOI initiated the process to blacklist the company. The process was completed by July, 2014.
• In August, 2014, barely a month after the blacklisting process was completed, the Modi Government lifted the blacklist and allowed the company to bid for defence deals.
• In August, 2014 the Modi Government approved the company’s proposal to invest in India and make helicopters
• In March, 2015 the Modi Government invited the company to take part in a “Make in India” programme.
• In April, 2015 the GOI allowed the company to take part in the bidding process for the Indian Navy to acquire 100 helicopters.