The Income-Tax (I-T) Department is in the process of conducting raids in 50 locations connected to Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Nath. According to reports, searches are underway at locations of MP Chief Minister’s OSD, Ratul Puri (Kamal Nath’s nephew), Amira Group, and Moser Bayer. Searches also underway in Bhopal, Indore, Goa and 35 locations in Delhi. More than 300 I-T officials conducting the searches, reported ANI.
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Cash stuffed in suitcases has also been recovered from one Prateek Joshi from Bhopal.
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The Enforcement Directorate had on Thursday questioned businessman Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath in connection with the Rs 3600 crore AgustaWestland scam. On Friday, Ratul Puri was summoned for questioning a second time.
Ratul Puri had said that he is cooperating with the investigation and had nothing to do with defence deals. “I am cooperating with the investigation and will continue to cooperate. I have no connection with defence (deals) and no business dealings with my relatives, I run an independent business. I will cooperate fully with ED and any other government authority that seeks any information from me or asks me for any clarifications. I have no connection with AgustaWestland or defence”, he had said.
Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate tracked down the money trail of kickbacks received by Christian Michel, the prime accused middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, and it has led them to Moser Baer which is owned by Deepak Puri. It was reported that a part of the kickbacks was routed through Moser Baer which is owned by Deepak Puri. Deepak Puri is the brother-in-law of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath. Puri is married to Nita Puri, sister of Senior Congress Leader and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Mr Kamal Nath and have one son Ratul Puri. Both Nita and Ratul are part of Moser Baer.
Michel was extradited to India on 4 December from United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recently it was also unearthed that, Christian Michel’s involvement was not only restricted to AgustaWestland scam. He had also lobbied against France-based Rafale in order to enable Eurofighter, its rival, to grab the MMRCA deal. On 5th January, the Patiala House Court had extended Michel’s judicial custody till February 26.
Christian Michel, the middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP Chopper scam, who was extradited from Dubai, has been spilling the beans and his correspondence from the time when this deal was in consideration has made some stunning revelations. Earlier, it was reported how Michel had access to Cabinet Meetings, Cabinet Committee on Security meetings and the then PMO under Manmohan Singh. It has now emerged that he also had access to investigative agencies, reported Economic Times.