Congress braces for another ignominy over Embraer report, CBI to probe if 'graft' involved

“If the (Embraer) case takes criminal turn, it will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),” Parrikar said.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday made it clear that his ministry would launch a criminal investigation if it gets hold of any evidence of corruption during the execution of the UPA era Embraer jet deal.

“If the case takes criminal turn, it will hand over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),” Parrikar said.

The for whom the jets were purchased, has sought details from

It is alleged in a foreign media report that the Brazilian company Embraer had employed an agent to sell three EMB 145 aircraft to DRDO in 2008.

DRDO has sought details on the report from the aircraft firm.

Parrikar said that his ministry would give an official statement on the issue only after the DRDO submits its report on Monday.

"I am not going to give a knee jerk reaction and just make a statement based on rumours. I have asked for a report which will be submitted on Monday.

“And if the issues are of a criminal nature, then we can forward this case to the CBI for a criminal investigation.

“If there are just procedural issues then we can do an internal investigation," ANI news agency quoted Parrikar as saying.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked the Centre to probe the aircraft bribery allegations linked to manufacturers of the Embraer.

The latest allegation surfaced after a joint US-Brazil investigation into Embraer uncovered a bribery case leading to a deal signed between the company and DRDO in 2008 for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars.

The company has been under the scanner of the United States Justice Department since 2010 after a contract with the Dominican Republic raised suspicions.