Milan: A court order in Milan on the AgustaWestland chopper deal has spurred political demands for investigations against the Indians named in documents and recordings - including Sonia Gandhi - but Italian prosecutors say they are not even trying to address that question.
Top sources close to the Italian investigation say the 225-page judgement of the Court of Appeals on April 7 is only about the trial and conviction of the former CEOs of AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica.
The court has ruled that Agusta hired middlemen to bribe decision-makers in India and snag the 3,600 crore contract for 12 helicopters to be used by top Indian leaders including the prime minister.
"The investigation in Italy is not focused on establishing the innocence or guilt of any Indian politician or officials named, so it will be incorrect to make any conclusions based on the latest judgement," said sources.
"Any Indians mentioned happen to be there because they are part of the story leading to the sentencing of Guiseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini to jail," they added.
However, they say important elements and bits of evidence have emerged in the inquiry that could help Indian investigators.
While documents annexed to the order refer to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, they give no proof of wrongdoing by them.
However, on former Air Chief SP Tyagi, the order says there are "unmistakable indications regarding corruption of an Indian officer" - identified as the cousin of the Tyagi brothers.
The order reveals that the story "began" with Juli Tyagi and his brothers informing two middlemen, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, that their cousin would soon be Chief of Air Staff and that this could be interesting for them.
Conversations between Haschke and Gerosa were recorded with hidden microphones as they drove from Malpensa to Lugano. They mention cash payments and say "Juli (Tyagi) is at risk" but there will be no suspicion of corruption.
An AgustaWestland employee says SP Tyagi visited Milan to meet them and stayed at posh hotel where they usually accommodate their guests.
The middlemen have accepted these exchanges as being authentic, leading the Milan court to record that "the corruptor has accepted that there has been corruption".
Top sources close to the Italian investigation say the 225-page judgement of the Court of Appeals on April 7 is only about the trial and conviction of the former CEOs of AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica.
The court has ruled that Agusta hired middlemen to bribe decision-makers in India and snag the 3,600 crore contract for 12 helicopters to be used by top Indian leaders including the prime minister.
"Any Indians mentioned happen to be there because they are part of the story leading to the sentencing of Guiseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini to jail," they added.
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While documents annexed to the order refer to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, they give no proof of wrongdoing by them.
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The order reveals that the story "began" with Juli Tyagi and his brothers informing two middlemen, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, that their cousin would soon be Chief of Air Staff and that this could be interesting for them.
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An AgustaWestland employee says SP Tyagi visited Milan to meet them and stayed at posh hotel where they usually accommodate their guests.
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