AgustaWestland- Suspicious movement of money even after deal was struck in 2010

Did AgustaWestland have more plans in India? The Central Bureau of Investigation has learnt that more payments were made to middleman James Christian Michel after the deal to supply 12 VVIP choppers was finalised on February 8 2010.

What has made the CBI suspicious is that there were payments being made to Michel even after February 2010 and a contract of March 1 2010 is what is under the scanner of the agency. Michel had prior to the signing of the deal received payments of Rs 360 crore from AgustaWestland to ensure that the same went in their favour. However the payments made after the deal being signed is something that the investigators are looking into.

Did Michel have more in store?

A pact signed with the Global Services on March 1 2010 almost a month after the deal was signed is what the CBI is looking into. It is not clear what they were planning, but it appears that more money was being pumped in, CBI officials have learnt.

After the deal was signed in February 2010, the role of Michel would have come to an end one would have thought. However another sign up 3 weeks after the deal has foxed investigators. Was it an attempt to conceal the kickbacks that were made prior to the February deal and show that the company was a bona fide one? Or was it setting the stage for some other deal? This is what the CBI is looking into now.