New Delhi: Rajiv Saxena, the main accused in the Agusta Westland Deal and a chartered accountant by profession, has named Ratul Puri, nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, his son Bakul Nath, Salman Khurshid and Ahmed Patel in the interrogation. Saxena has been granted interim bail three weeks ago in the Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal case. Explain that this deal was worth Rs. 3,000 crores.
Saxena was extradited from Dubai in January 2019 and was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. In this case, Saxena’s assets worth Rs 385 crore were attached. The English newspaper The Indian Express quoted Saxena’s 1,000-page statement to the ED as saying that there were alleged shortcomings in the Augusta Westland deal. Explain that this deal was canceled by the UPA-2 government. The deal was struck through two companies, Saxena’s Interstellar Technologies and Christian Mitchell’s Global Services. Mitchell has been in jail since 2018.
Bribes given to officials
As per the report of Express, in the supplementary chargesheet filed on September 17, the CBI has stated that in the year 2000, Saxena acquired 99.9% shares of Interstellar Technologies. The chargesheet cites Letters Rosary of Italy and Mauritius. It is alleged that Saxena, along with Gautam Khaitan, secured Euro 12.40 million from AgustaWestland in the account of Interstellar Technologies. The money was “further used to make payments to intermediaries and suspicious officials involved in the case.”
The four companies owned by Saxena are also known to have made payments of, 9,48,862 by Global Services. The four Saxena companies are Pacific International FZC, Midas Metals International LLC, Metallics Limited and Eurotrade Limited.
The interrogation of Saxena focuses on the financial transactions of two other accused in the Augusta Westland case, defense dealer Sushen Mohan Gupta and Ratul Puri, nephew of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Both Gupta and Puri were taken into custody and are currently out on bail.
Ahmed Patel son-nephew of Khurshid and Kamalnath
Saxena alleges that Gupta and Khaitan were adept at using names. He often used the names of many influential politicians. Through this he made his strength felt in the corridors of power. He often named Salman Khurshid and Kamal Nath.
In response to a question from politicians involved in the case, Saxena said, “I know that Interstellar Technologies Limited was one of the companies that received bribes from AgustaWestland. Interstellar Technologies was owned by Sushen Mohan Gupta, who controlled the company through Gautam Khaitan. During my meetings with Sushen Mohan Gupta and Gautam Khaitan, he often referred to leaders. He used to take the name AP in the conversation which meant Ahmed Patel. ‘
What did Kamal Nath and Khurshid say on the allegations?
According to the report, Kamal Nath said when the names of nephews and son came up- I have already said that I have nothing to do with my nephew Ratul Puri companies or transactions. As far as my son Bakul Nath is concerned, he lives in Dubai. When I spoke to him about it, he made it clear that he knew nothing about it. Anyone can open an offshore account without telling anyone. There are no bank accounts or documents that reveal my son’s connection. ‘
On the other hand, Khurshid said that it is shocking for me that my name was thrown in it. Sushen Mohan Gupta’s father Dev Mohan Gupta is a close family friend and I am his well wisher. Apart from him, I do not know any Ratul Puri or Saxena. ‘
