VVIP chopper scam: Enforcement Directorate tried to dilute probe, delay money trail investigation?

New Delhi: Every day there is a new and shocking development in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam!

In the latest episode of controversies, it has come to the fore that Enforcement Directorate (ED) was not keen about probing the AgustaWestland scam under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Reportedly, the ED officials sat on the AgustaWestland probe for seven months after receiving a copy of CBI's FIR in December 2013, a report in TOI said.

Also, the then top brass of ED recommended the probe to be conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 violations.

Investigations done under FEMA come under civil offences and attracted only penalties till last year. Now, it has been amended by the government after which the ED can now attach properties and even examine suspects.

The CBI had registered a case in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal on March 14, 2013. 

Allegedly as a move to dilute and delay the money trail investigation, the ED's top brass had written on the file that 'a FEMA probe should be done in VVIP chopper deal'.