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NEW DELHI: The CBI and foreign agencies probing kickbacks involved in the sale of VVIP helicopters to India in 2010 will be looking at several controversial and mysterious individuals based in India, Europe and elsewhere for their alleged involvement in pushing the deal through.
Among them, they may have been paid 51 million euros (approx Rs 350 crore) by AgustaWestland or its parent firm Finmeccanica as kickbacks, and much of that could have found its way back into Italian political establishment. Probably a portion of the payment may have even reached Indian political contacts. The possibility of payouts to Indian politicians, or those operating on their behalf, is quite high because of the individuals who are allegedly involved in the deal, and their close contacts with Indian politicians.
Three of the alleged middlemen hold the key to unravelling the details of the kickbacks: Switzerland-based Guido Haschke, who has been operating in Indian market for years and used to be a director on the board of real estate firm, Emaar MGF, in the past. Carlo Gerosa is a business partner of Haschke. Christian Michel is a UK resident and has very powerful political connections in India.
Names of several Indians too have emerged in the investigations, but no concrete information is available about any of them receiving kickbacks.
According to transcripts of several secret recordings done by Italian investigators, of the 51 million euro kickbacks, almost 30 million euro may have been paid to Michel, who is a confidante of Finmeccanica chief executive and chairman, Giuseppe Orsi, who was arrested in Italy on Tuesday. Much of this money may have found its way back to Italian politicians and others in Europe, according to indications.
In the taped conversation, names of Gautam Khaitan, a Delhi-based lawyer and a business partner of Haschke, Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi, a cousin of former air force chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, and Chandigarh-based firm Aeromatrix also figures. The conversation shows that kickbacks may have been routed via Tunisia and Mauritius.
One recorded conversation show that about 15 million euro of this kickback may have been routed back into India. In a discussion between Haschke and his partner Gerosa, the former said he planned to spend all that money on ballerinas and champagne.
Records presented in Italian courts also show that Paolo Girasole, who used to head Finmeccanica's operations in India, was also paid some of the kickbacks.
The alleged payoffs emerged as a result of deep fissures in Italian politics and a battle between Orsi and his predecessor Francesco Guarguanglini. After Silvio Berlusconi was replaced by Mario Monti as the head of Italian government, the corporate war within Finmeccanica spilled over, with an Orsi baiter and a senior Finmeccanica employee Lorenzo Borgogni blowing the whistle on the payoffs.
The Men Under Investigation
Christian Michel
Probably the go-between among some key Indian contacts, the CEO of Finmeccanica and others. He is believed to have handled 30 million euros of the kickbacks. His father Wolfgang Richard Max Michel too had deep Indian connections. Michel is also believed to have close connections with several Indian politicians. Faces an arrest warrant in Switzerland, and is presently based in Dubai.
Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa
Haschke, who holds Italian and US passports, is based in Switzerland. He has been very active in India for many years, and used to be a director of Emaar MGF. He was briefly arrested by Swiss authorities in connection with the ongoing investigations. Carlo Gerosa is his business partner. A large part of the secretly recorded conversations is between the two, and discusses in detail the VVIP helicopter deal with India.
Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi
A cousin of former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, he is known to be a flashy operator who lives in a farm house and operates out of New Delhi.
Gautam Khaitan
A Delhi-based lawyer who seemed to have been a legal advisor to Haschke and Gerosa. His name repeatedly figures in the conversations. He and Haschke were involved in promoting Aeromatrix, a Chandigarh-based firm which figures in the investigations.
Among them, they may have been paid 51 million euros (approx Rs 350 crore) by AgustaWestland or its parent firm Finmeccanica as kickbacks, and much of that could have found its way back into Italian political establishment. Probably a portion of the payment may have even reached Indian political contacts. The possibility of payouts to Indian politicians, or those operating on their behalf, is quite high because of the individuals who are allegedly involved in the deal, and their close contacts with Indian politicians.
Three of the alleged middlemen hold the key to unravelling the details of the kickbacks: Switzerland-based Guido Haschke, who has been operating in Indian market for years and used to be a director on the board of real estate firm, Emaar MGF, in the past. Carlo Gerosa is a business partner of Haschke. Christian Michel is a UK resident and has very powerful political connections in India.
Names of several Indians too have emerged in the investigations, but no concrete information is available about any of them receiving kickbacks.
According to transcripts of several secret recordings done by Italian investigators, of the 51 million euro kickbacks, almost 30 million euro may have been paid to Michel, who is a confidante of Finmeccanica chief executive and chairman, Giuseppe Orsi, who was arrested in Italy on Tuesday. Much of this money may have found its way back to Italian politicians and others in Europe, according to indications.
In the taped conversation, names of Gautam Khaitan, a Delhi-based lawyer and a business partner of Haschke, Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi, a cousin of former air force chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, and Chandigarh-based firm Aeromatrix also figures. The conversation shows that kickbacks may have been routed via Tunisia and Mauritius.
One recorded conversation show that about 15 million euro of this kickback may have been routed back into India. In a discussion between Haschke and his partner Gerosa, the former said he planned to spend all that money on ballerinas and champagne.
Records presented in Italian courts also show that Paolo Girasole, who used to head Finmeccanica's operations in India, was also paid some of the kickbacks.
The alleged payoffs emerged as a result of deep fissures in Italian politics and a battle between Orsi and his predecessor Francesco Guarguanglini. After Silvio Berlusconi was replaced by Mario Monti as the head of Italian government, the corporate war within Finmeccanica spilled over, with an Orsi baiter and a senior Finmeccanica employee Lorenzo Borgogni blowing the whistle on the payoffs.
Christian Michel
Probably the go-between among some key Indian contacts, the CEO of Finmeccanica and others. He is believed to have handled 30 million euros of the kickbacks. His father Wolfgang Richard Max Michel too had deep Indian connections. Michel is also believed to have close connections with several Indian politicians. Faces an arrest warrant in Switzerland, and is presently based in Dubai.
Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa
Haschke, who holds Italian and US passports, is based in Switzerland. He has been very active in India for many years, and used to be a director of Emaar MGF. He was briefly arrested by Swiss authorities in connection with the ongoing investigations. Carlo Gerosa is his business partner. A large part of the secretly recorded conversations is between the two, and discusses in detail the VVIP helicopter deal with India.
Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi
A cousin of former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, he is known to be a flashy operator who lives in a farm house and operates out of New Delhi.
Gautam Khaitan
A Delhi-based lawyer who seemed to have been a legal advisor to Haschke and Gerosa. His name repeatedly figures in the conversations. He and Haschke were involved in promoting Aeromatrix, a Chandigarh-based firm which figures in the investigations.
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