ED arrested Anoop Kumar Gupta in connection with the kickback delivery in AgustaWestland VVIP Helicopter
Anoop Kumar Gupta, Joint Managing Director of Khushi Ram and Behari Lal (KRBL) Ltd, India’s largest rice exporter is now caught the second time in the corruption related to Indian Air Force purchases. On Saturday the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Gupta in connection with the kickback delivery in AgustaWestland VVIP Helicopter purchases, where Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her trusted man late Ahmed Patel was involved.
Gupta is already charge-sheeted by ED in December 2020 for bribe money routing in the Congress Government period purchases of Embraer Jets. Actually, Government of India (GOI) was forced to take up the case a few years ago Embraer disclosed to the US authorities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act on how they clicked deals in India and Saudi Arabia. Embraer disclosed to the US that for Indian deal, they transferred bribe through their subsidiary to Anoop Gupta’s firm. Gupta and his nephew and other arms dealers are charge-sheeted the previous month[1].
So this disclosure by ED to Court shows that India’s biggest rice exporter KRBL Ltd’s (a famous brand is India Gate Basmati Rice) is involved in routing bribes of Indian Air Force’s flights purchase deal and using his rice business empire for money routing.
Now Anoop Kumar Gupta is arrested for AgustaWestland VVIP Helicopter bribery also and Court has allowed custody of five days to ED. Explaining Gupta’s role in the bribery transfers, ED’s Prosecutor N K Matta told Court: “It is submitted that M/s IDS Information Technology and Engineering Sarl, Tunisia have received proceeds of crime to the tune of Euro 24.37 million from AgustaWestland and out of this about Euro 12.4 million were further transferred to M/s Interstellar Technologies Ltd, Mauritius, and proceeds of crime were further transferred to various companies including M/s Rawasi Al Khaleej General Trading LLC Dubai, a company formed through KRBL’s Dubai arm – KRBL DMCC. Gupta was one of the directors of KRBL DMCC and M/s Rawasi Al Khaleej General Trading (RAKGT) LLC Dubai was used to route proceeds of crime in the VVIP chopper scam[2].”
So this disclosure by ED to Court shows that India’s biggest rice exporter KRBL Ltd’s (a famous brand is India Gate Basmati Rice) is involved in routing bribes of Indian Air Force’s flights purchase deal and using his rice business empire for money routing. This incident exposes the role of many businessmen and arms dealing rackets in India. And the role of Dubai based operations. Christian Michel, the main bribe giver in AgustaWestland, now in jail was also deported from Dubai.
In Agusta Chopper scam it must be remembered that till date, no bribe receiver politician is questioned or arrested, though the Italian Court judgment in April 2016 clearly speaks about none other Sonia Gandhi’s role.
References:
[1] ED files charge sheet in UPA-era Embraer defence deal; says commission were paid for contract – Dec 09, 2020, Hindustan Times
[2] AgustaWestland case: Businessman Anoop Gupta sent to 5 days ED remand – Jan 30, 2021, TOI
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It is a political game.You scratch my back,I will scratch yours towards the end all those who are in public life n their cronies will have a hearty laugh,as to how the common citizens were fooled
So-called farmer protests have rejuvenated all such investigations. As the protest BATTLE GAMES are being played between the govt and the opposition, its stakes are going higher. Since none of the side seems to be relenting (rather they are getting more aggressive), one thing looks certain, whenever these battle games will end, one side will lose BIG TIME. Time will tell who will win, but I think it will get completely clear after Bengal election results.
I hope that BJP wins as it will deliver a HUGE blow to the left-ecosystem. They have invested a lot in these developments and their returns are meager (till now). In speculative trading business there is a saying ‘Never invest in a losing trade’, but I think opposition is in a Catch-22. One thing is for sure, this situation has turned into a quagmire and whoever loses will regret their actions for a long long time.
NO Politician is arrested nor questioned !! Says it all. This will continue for many more centuries
Classic case of bribes were transfered. Kudos to PGurus for exposing this racket of bribe transfering methods