AgustaWestland case: Delhi firm got funds under pretext of exporting music CDs

New Delhi, May 3: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing a company by the name Media Exim which was set up in 2005 to facilitate the transfer of funds in connection with the AgustaWestland case.

The firm set up in Delhi by James Christian Michel, the alleged middleman who was appointed to manage the media had received a sum of Rs 7 crore in two years.

The money was being transferred from a firm called Global Services under the pretext of exporting music CDs. In two years there was a sum of Rs 7 crore that had been transferred.

However, once the probe into this case was launched Rs 6 crore was transferred back to Dubai and the assets of the firm immediately liquidated.

Global trail:

The investigations show show that there was a global money trail. Michel who now resides in the UK was specifically appointed by AgustaWestland to manage the deal and move money around. Michel went about setting up firms in both India and abroad so that the money could be transferred.

In Delhi he through his local contacts had set up the Media Exim which was also meant to receive money from his global firms. AgustaWestland is alleged to have entered into a deal with Michel to specifically manage bureaucrats, politicians and the media.

To the Delhi firm set up in 2005 had received Rs 7 crore. The money was being transferred under the pretext of carrying out exports of music CDs the CBI probe has also found.

However, when Michel learnt that an investigation was likely to be launched he immediately ordered the liquidation of the assets. An amount of Rs 6 crore was transferred back.

Bank accounts:

A bank account registered in the name of Global Services a firm that received money from AgustaWestland is also under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate. The bank which is located in the Dubai's Airport Free Zone had received funds from AgustaWestland.

The money was later transferred to various subsidiaries set up in India and other countries by Michel, the ED alleges.

The ED says that it is writing to the UAE to seek out more details from the bank. A huge chunk of the money had landed in this bank before it transferred to various other subsidiaries, the ED alleges.

OneIndia News