SC dismisses PIL seeking probe into AgustaWestland chopper purchase by Chhattisgarh govt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed PIL to probe alleged irregularities in purchase of Agusta Westland helicopters by the Chhattisgarh government for VIP use in 2006-07.

The PIL had been filed by NGO, Swaraj Abhiyan of activist-turned-politician Yogendra Yadav.

Earlier on January 31, the Supreme Court had made terse remarks on AgustaWestland helicopter purchase by the Chhattisgarh government. The purchase was made in 2006-07. The Supreme Court had then asked the Chhattisgarh government as to what was the "interest" of Chief Minister Raman Singh's son in this.

The petitioners have alleged that in July 2008, a bank account in the name of Abhishek Singh was opened in the British Virgin Islands, and on August 1, 2008, one of the firms purportedly involved in the deal wound up operations.

The NGO had said that a proposal of the state in December 2006 said that helicopters firms should be invited to make their representations, but later, no company was called and a tender was issued only for one AgustaWestland chopper.

The court had said it was only concerned as to whether any "fraud or hanky-panky" was committed in securing the deal, and made it clear that it was not questioning the choice of the helicopter.

OneIndia News (with PTI inputs)