Anglo-Italian defence firm Agusta Westland continues to participate in bids to procure choppers for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, despite the company being investigated over bribery allegations in another contract.
Agusta Westland remains in the running for the $200-million Coast Guard deal for 16 ship-launched helicopters. Agusta Westland has submitted bids for Naval Utility Helicopters of the Navy and twin-engine helicopters proposal of the Indian Coast Guard. The Government has said it has no plans to bar Agusta Westland from bidding for further aviation contracts, even though the company is under scrutiny in Italy and India. The earlier case refers to light helicopters for VIP transport.
Though India has put on hold the $733-million deal for 12 three-engine AW 101 helicopters signed in February 2010, better known as Agusta Westland VIP contract, because of bribery allegations, the Anglo-Italian aerospace company continues to bid for new contracts.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony told Parliament that since no decision to debar the company from participation in the procurement process has been taken, the bids are under process.
Antony added that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of the Naval Utility Helicopter (NUH)) was issued before the commencement of the Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry in the VIP helicopter case.
The RFP for the procurement of 56 NUH was issued in August last year, prior to the CBI inquiry, while the RFP for procurement of 14 twin-engine helicopters for the Indian Coast Guard was also issued November last year, Antony told the House.
A Ministry of Defence note adds that the decision for cancelling the VIP contract will depend on the outcome of the CBI investigation. The Agusta Westland trial in Italy is reportedly set to start on June 19.