New Delhi, Feb 09: The CBI on Friday questioned two arms
dealers -- Vipin Khanna and Suresh Nanda -- in connection with
its probe into alleged malpractices in various defence deals
one of which has former Defence Minister George Fernandes as
an accused.
Two arms dealers, who were summoned to the CBI
headquarters, appeared before the sleuths of Anti-Corruption
Unit of the investigating agency where they were asked about
their roles in South African state-owned company Denel arms
deal and Barak Missile deal, official sources said.
The residences and official premises of Khanna, kin of
former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, and Nanda, son
of former Naval Admiral S M Nanda, were raided as also those
of other defence agents by the CBI in October last year during
a nationwide raid.
It was not immediately clear what Khanna and Nanda told
CBI during their separate questioning for nearly two hours.
The questioning of Khanna was done for his allegedly
receiving huge remittances from two Israeli armaments
companies to a firm owned by his son and Congress MLA Arvind
Khanna and the defence deals brokered by him with a
neighbouring country (Pakistan), the sources said.
They said Vipin's role was examined for anti-material
rifles from Denel, a deal in which the CBI has claimed that
kickbacks were allegedly received by him.
Initial findings about the alleged receipt of kickbacks
by the Khannas had come to the CBI in April last year after
Varas Associates, based in the isle of man, responded to
letters rogatory and gave details of remittances allegedly
made to Khanna by Denel, the sources said.
The CBI had sent letters rogatory to South Africa, Hong
Kong and Britain, seeking details of financial transactions
involving Denel and Varas Associates.
In connection with the anti-material rifle deal, a case
had been registered against Defence Ministry officials, Denel
and its officials, Varas Associates and its officials and
others in connection with alleged payment of a 12.75 percent
commission for contracts to supply the bunker-buster rifles.
The CBI alleges Denel had paid Varas Associates 24,08,373
dollars and 10,99,672 dollars on January 27, 2003 and 1,51,350
dollars on June 19 the same year.
Nanda was questioned for his alleged role in the purchase
of armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) as the CBI alleged he had
approached former Samata Party treasurer R K Jain to stop the
contract going in favour of PSP Bohemia of Czech Republic
whose bid for 87 ARVs was the lowest at Rs 247.75 crore.
The probe showed Nanda represented Unimpex which itself
was not an manufacturer of the ARV but an agent of ZTS Martin
firm of Czechoslovakia.
Nanda allegedly received huge funds from Unimpex through
various companies and the same were used by him for
acquisition of assets in the name of his family members and
companies, the CBI alleged adding that in the process a loss
of Rs 51.83 crore was caused to the exchequer.
During searches carried out in October last year, the CBI
had seized unaccounted cash of Rs 62.5 lakh from the office of
Nanda.
Bureau Report
