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AgustaWestland scam: 78 Military veterans call for punishing bribe-takers, say treat ‘corruption in defence as anti-national’

The letter has been signed by about 78 Military veterans and that include very senior officers in Indian Army and Air Force including 3 former Air Marshal and 24 Lieutenant General.

New Delhi: Days after Enforcement Directorate (ED) indicted Congress leader Kamal Nath’s nephew and sons for allegedly receiving kickbacks in AgustaWestland VVIP choppers case, a group of Military veterans have demanded that bribe-takers are brought to justice soon.

Writing an open letter, the veterans called for focussed investigation and its swift trial via special fast track courts. They also called for exemplary punishment to the guilty of taking bribes so that this case serves as deterrent for others in future.

“We need to send an unambiguous message across all the ‘high and mighty’ that the National Security is paramount and anyone trying to play with its sanctity will be severely punished,” they said in a letter.

The letter has been signed by about 78 Military veterans and that include very senior officers in Indian Army and Air Force including 3 former Air Marshal and 24 Lieutenant General. The letter also said that corruption in any field is reprehensible but in defence sector, it cannot be viewed as simply a matter of corruption but should be seen as anti-national activity, at par with acts like terrorism.

“A prime reason for corruption in defense deals has been the delay in prosecuting those responsible for playing with the security, sovereignty and integrity of the nation,” the letter said.

One of the prime accused turned approver in AgustaWestland scam, Rajiv Saxena, named key Congress leaders and their relatives over alleged involvement in Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper scam.

In his interrogation in connection with the scam, Saxena named senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Kamal Nath’s son Bakul Nath and Sonia Gandhi’s close aide Ahmed Patel.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has managed to establish the kickback chain of alleged payoffs in regards to AgustaWestland scam. A total bribe of Rs 385 crore was paid. During the investigation, the ED found that Michel gave $1 million to Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri.

The probe agency has also said that the trust also had a company called Pristine River which received slush funds of $14 million and the real beneficiary of this were Kamal Nath’s two sons.