Antony said, to cover up their criminal nexus and negligence in pursing the CBI enquiry initiated by the UPA Government to find out names of culprits and details of corruption and to punish them. NDA Government was sleeping for the last two years without doing anything. Instead, they were trying to find solutions to bring back again this corrupt company to the Defence deals with Indian Government and private partners. The Government under a contract with the Agusta Westland, UK to procure 12 Helicopters for the use of VVIPs as per the urgent requirements of the Indian Air Force, there was a Clause of Integrity Pact – that at any stage of the contract, any illegal activity i.e. corruption, engagement of middlemen and any other kind of corruption on the part of the Company is proved – Government of India reserves the right to cancel the contract and take all legal actions against the Company.
That is why, the moment,
we received from Italy that there is a possibility of involvement of middlemen
in this contract, day one onwards – the entire Government of India under UPA
went on action. First, it tried through our Embassy in Rome to find out the
details of the case and since the contract was with Agusta Westland UK, we
pursued with the UK Government with the help of Ministry of External Affairs,
but we were not able to get tangible evidence at that time but we did not leave
it there, we pursued it.
For the first time in the history of GOI, we decided to fight
the case in Italy, we became a party in Italian Court in Naples to get the
records. Then, we got the records. At every sitting of the Naples Court, we
sent Government of India representatives to watch the case. One officer from
the Defence Ministry, one Officer of the CBI and occasionally one officer from
MEA was attending every hearing of the case. Besides, we decided to cancel the
contract and also the Government ordered a CBI enquiry to find out the truth.
When it was proved that there was a middle man, we not only took the action to
get the back the advance but also the Bank Guarantee of the Company. The
Company refused but we tried through the Bank of Italy to get back the money,
they also refused. Then, we took up the case in Milan Court, engaged the Lawyer
there. He fought the case, we won the case. We got entire Bank Guarantee - as a
result, we not only got the advance amount we paid to them, we got more money –
it is in the statement, we got more money from them, Advance paid plus Bank
Guarantee, besides, we cancelled the contract as well.
We ordered the CBI enquiry, we fought the case in Italy, we got
the money – more money than we gave – and in all the hearings, we sent
our Officers to represent the Government - as a result we received lot of
documents about this corruption case. All these documents are with the
Government of India i.e. Defence Ministry, CBI and most probably with the MEA
since that time onwards. We started the process of black-listing the Company
but Attorney General raised some objection and hence there was some delay, and
then the Elections came.
But before black-listing, there was another thing, we banned all
the purchases with this Company including all its subsidiaries.
We put on hold all the on-going negotiations with the Company.
Then our Government went. So, all the records are with the Government of India.
All records of each hearing of the case in Milan as well as Naples Courts are
with the Government of India. It all happened in just about a year only – for
the last two years NDA Government is in power, all the records are in their
possession – they have not taken a single action against the Company. They were
showing criminal negligence in pursuing the case. Instead of pursuing the case
and punishing the Company, they were finding ways to escape them the punishment
and help the Company and bring them back to the Indian Defence arena through
some legal opinion which they got it. They allowed this Company which was under
CBI scanner, whose contract was cancelled by the previous Government, Company
which was also about to be black-listed and all the contracts with the Company
were banned and put on hold. This present day Government again, through some
process, allowed this Company to participate in Make-in-India process. In many
cases, they are a party.
After that, the same Government which tried to help this
Company, the corrupt company now they are trying to accuse us. From day one
onwards, we were fighting against the corruption. During our time, we were not
able to get all evidence which we tried. Some evidences were there and some
people were arrested. All evidences are with them. If at all they know anything
or there is any evidence against any individual or the accused, all the records
are with them for the last two years. It is all a political conspiracy to
malign Congress Party, Party Leadership and also to cover their criminal
negligence. We will expose their negligence and also their nexus with this
Company. Country will know in the days to come that what are the dealings of
the Government with the company. We will not leave it here. We will pursue it
and we will come up with more details
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