VVIP chopper scam: Now ED hunts mystery Danish woman accused of playing key role in Agusta deal

The Enforcement Directorate is reportedly looking for a Danish woman who is believed to have played a central role in the multi-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal during the UPA government.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate is reportedly looking for a London-based Danish woman who is believed to have played a central role in the multi-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal during the UPA government.

Christine Bredo Spliid, who is based in London, had travelled to India during the period when AgustaWestland deal was being finalised.

Records show she lives in 10 Chapstow Road, London.

According to media reports on Friday, Spliid and her associate Christian James Michel have shareholding in a UK-based company named Beetle Nut Home Ltd., which was apparently dissolved in January 2016.

ED officials are now reportedly trying to find out if some part of the kickback money had reached Beetle Nut Home Ltd.

Spliid also holds equity in Croprotein Ltd. and French Crystal, both are UK-based firms, News18.com reported.

Two other individuals, both British nationals of Indian origin, Saahil Parkash Mehra and Sonya Mehra, also have shareholding in the company.

India Today reported that Spliid made several trips to India on Michel's behalf and met several Indians accused of involvement in the deal.

She is also accused of accompanying Indians during their travels to other countries to meet with other co-accused.

On one such visit to Switzerland, she accompanied lawyer Gautam Khaitan, who is believed to be a middleman in the deal.

Khaitan, an ex-board member of Aeromatrix, has reportedly accepted taking payments from Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, also middlemen in the deal.

Meanwhile, the nature of Michel and Spliid's relationship is being scrutinized by the Indian authorities. Citing officials, India Today reported that she may have been used in “business meetings” as a “ruse” to meet with accused in the scam.

Spliid is traceless since March, the time when the Italian court gave its verdict in the scam case.