India's Ministry of Defence says the Italian authorities are not conducting a probe into a 2010 deal for 12 AgustaWestland A101 helicopters fitted for the VIP transport role.
In a letter to India's parliament, minister of defence AK Antony said the ministry merely asked the Indian embassy in Rome to provide a report into Italian investigations into alleged questionable dealings at AgustaWestland's parent company, Finmeccanica.
"The Ministry of Defence asked for a report into the matter from the Indian Embassy in Rome," says Antony. " The report received indicates that Italian magistrates/prosecutors are conducting a preliminary investigation into allegations of financial malpractices occurring within Finmeccanica, Italy, and its subsidiaries in general and there is no specific probe being conducted about India-related transactions."
In late February, Finmeccanica stated that AgustaWestland was not involved in any irregularity concerning the supply of helicopters in India. The statement followed Indian media reports of an Indian government probe into the €560 million ($754 million) AW101 deal.
Source: Flight International