The CBI has booked controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari and others in connection with the alleged corruption in the Rs 2,895 crore deal of 75 Pilatus Aircraft Limited basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force in 2009, officials said.

The agency has carried out searches at the residence and office of Bhandari, they said. Hnece, the details of further searches have been withheld by the agency for time being, they said.

Central Bureau of Investigation

The action comes after findings of a three year old inquiry by the CBI showed a prima facie case of corruption against the accused.

The agency has also booked unidentified officials of the Indian Air Force, the Defence Ministry and Switzerland-based Pilatus Aircraft Limited in the case, they said.

The Swiss company was one of the bidders for the contract floated in 2009, they said.

Since, the CBI has alleged that it had entered into a  financial crime conspiracy with Bhandari and Bimal Sareen, both directors of Offset India Solutions Private Limited, and dishonestly and fraudulently signed a Service Provider Agreement with Bhandari in June 2010, which was in violation of the Defence Procurement Procedure, 2008.

Though, to help Indian Air Force corruption allegedly done to get the contract of 75 basic Trainer Aircraft.

Additionally, the agency has alleged that the company made a payment of CHF 1,000,000 in the account of Offset India Solution Private Limited with the Standard Chartered Bank, New Delhi in two tranches in August and October, 2010.

From 2011 to 2015, Rs. 350 crores transferred in the bank accounts of Dubai based Offset India Solutions FZC.

Pilatus Aircraft Limited dishonestly and fraudulently signed a Pre- Contract Integrity Pact on November 12, 2010 with the Defence Ministry. Hence, it deliberately concealed the facts about service provider agreement with Bhandari, the agency alleged

Inquiry

The inquiry showed that Pilatus Aircraft Limited allegedly concealed payments made to Bhandari’s companies in India and Dubai, they said.

To influence the officials of IAF the suspected commission amount allegedly paid.The MOD and the Government of India associated.

Pilatus Aircraft Limited bagged the contract on May 24, 2012 for Rs 2895.63 crore.

The period June 2012 to March 2015 Bhandari and his wife Sonia Bhandari received Rs. 25.5 crore.

Bhandari allegedly routed money through purchase of various companies and cash transactions involving Aggarwal and one Himanshu Verma, it alleged.

Final Words

Pilatus Aircraft Limited paid to Bhandari commission amount. Therefore, it obtained the contract it alleged.

Besides Bhandari, the CBI has also booked his companies Offset India Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Offset India Solutions FZC, UAE.Aggarwal, Verma, Sareen and other officials involved in criminal conspiracy.