Airbus case: CBI team to visit London next week

New Delhi: A CBI team will visit London by next week to examine Airbus's Executive Vice-President Kiran Rao in connection with alleged irregularities in the over Rs 8,000-crore deal for supplying 43 aircraft to the erstwhile Indian Airlines in 2005.

Highly-placed sources said today some clarifications are needed from Rao on alleged non-fulfillment of conditions given in the supply contract.

The sources said orders for sanctioning the visit of the team headed by Superintendent of Police have been issued and the team might fly by next week to London to record the evidence.

"Airbus is cooperating with the investigation and cannot say more at this time," Justin Dubon, Head of Global News at Airbus, had said last week.

The sources said that after nearly a year-long long probe, CBI has felt the need to examine senior executives of Airbus about some crucial points which have surfaced during the investigation in the case in which senior officials of the erstwhile Indian Airlines are also made accused along with Airbus.

CBI had registered a case against French company Airbus Industries and seven officials who held senior positions in Indian Airlines which was later merged with Air India.

The sources said the then officials, including Deputy Managing Director, Director (planning), Director (finance), Functional Director (engineering), General Manager (engineering) and two Deputy General Managers one of whom is now posted in the vigilance wing, are accused in the case.

At the time of filing of FIR, Airbus had denied any wrongdoing and refuted allegations.

The agency had concluded its preliminary enquiry in the matter in 2012 and sought the permission of the Civil Aviation Ministry to prosecute the officials in the case which was given only in 2013, CBI sources said.