The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft Ltd and unknown officials of the Indian Air Force and the Ministry of Defence in 2009 trainer aircraft deal case.
The case was registered on charges of irregularities and corruption (kickbacks to the tune of Rs 339 crore) in the procurement of 75 basic trainer aircraft in 2009.
“A case was registered against Bhandari and Bimal Darren, both directors of Offset India Solutions Pvt Ltd, as well as officials of Swiss-based plane-maker Pilatus Aircraft Ltd over alleged irregularities in the procurement of 75 basic trainer aircraft in 2009 on Wednesday,” a senior CBI official told IANS.
The CBI has earlier registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) on November 11, 2016, to verify the allegations of bribery.
The CBI official said the agency was probing the kind of services that Offset India Solution Pvt Ltd provided to the Swiss aircraft firm.
Bhandari is already being investigated for allegedly buying a benami house for Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra in London.
Earlier, the CBI had conducted a raid at the official premises of Sanjay Bhandari. Incriminating documents were recovered and further investigation will continue, officials said.
Earlier this month, the Defence Ministry had indefinitely banned all business dealings with a company owned by Bhandari.