Pilot links Raje to Agusta deal loss

Jaipur, April 29

Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot today demanded a CBI probe into the purchase of Agusta helicopters by the Vasundhara Raje government during her first stint as the CM in 2005.

“In view of the CAG report against the Vasundhara Raje government, the CBI should also probe it along with its investigation into the Delhi’s choppergate,” Pilot said.

Quoting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2008 in Rajasthan, Pilot said at a press conference that Raje caused a loss of Rs 1.14 crore to the exchequer besides committing procedural lapses.

“During her first term, Raje decided to purchase a 17-seater chopper in 2008. Her government paid a premium of Rs 7 crore in a bid to outsmart the Andhra Pradesh Government that had earlier bought the same chopper for Rs 52 crore,” he said. — TNS