SC issues notice to Centre in Agusta case

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, May 6

The Supreme Court issued notice to the central government on a PIL plea for a court-monitored CBI probe into the AgustaWestland chopper scam.

The PIL by Advocate ML Sharma seeks registration of a case against all the Indians named in an Italian Court order on alleged payment of bribe by the company, AgustaWestland.

Read: VVIP choppers deal: ED questions ex-IAF chief Tyagi on day two

A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh directed the  Centre and the CBI to file their response within 10 days.

Counsel Sharma said the government had initially fixed the altitude at 6000 metres for the choppers to be procured by the Defence Ministry but later lowered the condition to favour AgustaWestland.

This attracted action under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he pleaded.

The Bench slated the next hearing for the second week of July.