New Delhi: CBI has recorded the statements of former Inspector General SPG N Ramachandran who retired as DGP of Meghalaya and two other officials allegedly involved in the purchase of AgustaWestland VVIP helicopters which came under the scanner of the agency following allegations of corruption.
CBI sources said Ramachandran, former Secretary (Security) at the Cabinet Secretariat Sudhir Kumar and former Special Secretary (Acquisition) in the Defence Ministry HC Gupta were examined by the agency as part of its probe.
The sources said these officers were examined as witnesses in connection with the probe into allegations of bribery in the Rs. 3600-crore VVIP Chopper deal.
Ramachandran was the DGP of Meghalaya from September 28, 2011 till his retirement on October 31, 2012. A case was registered by CBI against former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and 12 others, including his cousins, for alleged cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy in the helicopter deal in which Rs 360 crore is alleged to have been paid as kickbacks.
The decision was taken in consultation with the Special Protection Group and other top officials of the Prime Minister’s Office but the agency did not get permission to question either M K Narayanan or B V Wanchoo who are now Governors of West Bengal and Goa respectively.
While Narayanan was the National Security Adviser, Wancho had been the head of SPG at the time. (PTI)