AgustaWestland: Setback for India as Italy court releases middleman

The ED is now planning to send an extradition request to Italy at the earliest.

The victory for India, probing the AgustaWestland case was temporary. Carlo Gerosa who was detained following an Interpol notice was released on the ground that India and Italy have no extradition treaty.

Gerosa, the alleged middleman in the case was returning from Switzerland when he was detained last week. His release is a major setback for the CBI and ED as officials were preparing to extradite him.

The appeals court of Messina ordered the release, saying that though the detention could be treated as formally correct but such measures cannot be applied in the absence of an extradition treaty. It also cited that Gerosa has a Swiss passport.

The ED is now planning to send an extradition request to Italy at the earliest. Officials said though India does not have a full-fledged extradition treaty with Italy, there is a working arrangement.

Investigators said Gerosa's extradition is important as he is one of the three middlemen besides Christian Michel and Guido Haschke.

OneIndia News