ED files chargesheet in Embraer defence deal money laundering case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed chargesheet in a money laundering case linked to UPA-era defence deal with aircraft manufacturer Embrarer.

The probe agency said that chargesheet has been filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court and those named in it include Embraer SA, Brazil, Interdev Aviation Services Pte Ltd, KRBL Limited, Anoop Kumar Gupta (director of KRBL Limited), Anurag Potdar (nephew of Anoop Kumar Gupta) and others.

The case pertains to payment of alleged commission by Embraer to clinch the USD 208 million deal with India, in which it is suspected and alleged that kickbacks were paid.

The ED, in a statement, said its probe found that “Embraer SA Brazil obtained the contract for supply of aircraft to Indian Air Force for USD 210 million and paid commission of USD 5.76 million to a middleman named Vipin Khanna for influencing the said contract in its favour”.

“The said kickbacks of USD 5.76 million were routed by Embraer SA, Brazil through its subsidiaries to Interdev Aviation Services Pte Ltd, Singapore in lieu of sham agreement.”

The kickbacks to the tune of around USD 3.275 million were further routed from M/s Interdev Aviation Services Pte. Ltd. to M/s KRBL DMCC, Dubai (a 100% owned subsidiary of KRBL Ltd.) in lieu of sham agreement to finally reach India through M/s KRBL Ltd. projecting the same as untainted money.

Further, investigation under PMLA revealed that Anoop Kumar Gupta, Director of KRBL Limited signed the sham agreement held between Interdev Aviation Services Pte. Ltd. and KRBL DMCC to receive Proceeds of Crime (PoC) which were finally received in the bank A/c of KRBL Ltd in which he is one of the Director.

The agency said its investigation found that “Anoop Kumar Gupta signed the sham agreement held between Interdev Aviation Services Pte Ltd. and KRBL DMCC to receive proceeds of crime which were finally received in the bank account of KRBL Ltd, in which he is one of the director”.

The agency has attached assets worth ₹16.29 crore in this case till now and it has “prayed for the confiscation” of these immovable properties in its prosecution complaint, it said.

The ED had registered a criminal complaint under PMLA after studying a CBI FIR against Embraer SA of Brazil, unknown officials of the Ministry of Defence, alleged middleman Vipin Khanna, Interdev Aviation Services Pte Ltd of Singapore and others.