Case 19 · Crony capital (alleged)

AgustaWestland. A ₹3,600 crore chopper deal, and courts that disagreed

Feb 2013 onward

Deal scrapped. Italian courts acquitted.

4,932 days since Recorded outcome: Deal scrapped. Italian courts acquitted..

Human cost

Twelve VVIP helicopters, procured on specifications that were altered to fit

Financial cost Est

A contract worth about ₹3,600 crore, cancelled with payments already made

What happened

India contracted AgustaWestland for twelve VVIP helicopters after the mandatory service-ceiling specification was lowered, a change that allowed the eventual winner to qualify. Italian prosecutors alleged bribes were paid to secure it. India cancelled the contract in 2014 and the CBI charged a former air chief and others.

Claim against record

What the government said

The Defence Ministry pointed to its own cancellation of the contract and referral to the CBI as evidence that it acted. Those charged deny wrongdoing and cite the Italian acquittals.

What the record shows

Deal scrapped. Italian courts acquitted.

The Italian proceedings ran in both directions: acquittal, then conviction on appeal, then final acquittal of the executives in January 2018 for want of evidence. The Indian investigation continued regardless and has produced no conviction of any Indian official or politician. The specification change that shaped the tender was never satisfactorily explained by anyone.

Contested / alleged

Bribery is alleged and, in the Italian courts, ultimately not proven. The Indian case remains unresolved. Nothing here should be read as a finding that any Indian official took money.

What accountability should have looked like

A written, published justification whenever a qualifying specification is changed mid-tender, which is the decision that made the rest possible.

Ministers and office-holders responsible

Defence Minister; cancelled the contract, ordered the CBI probeA.K. Antony
Former IAF chief; charged by the CBI, acquitted by the Italian courtS.P. Tyagi

Naming who held the portfolio is a matter of public record. It is not by itself a finding of personal responsibility for any death or any rupee.

Sources

T1 primary record · T2 reporting · T3 partisan

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Cite or export this case

Citizens' Accountability Ledger, "AgustaWestland. A ₹3,600 crore chopper deal, and courts that disagreed" (Feb 2013 onward), case-72. https://whoisresponsible.xyz/case/case-72/

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