Cong seeks CBI probe into Raj govt chopper deal

With BJP and Congress trading charges over the VVIP chopper deal, former Union minister Sachin Pilot today sought a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the purchase of an AgustaWestland helicopter by the Rajasthan government in 2005.
He said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report had alleged that misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs 1.14 crore had taken place in the helicopter deal by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state.
Holding that the previous Congress-led dispensation at the Centre had debarred the scandal-tainted company, Pilot said, "When irregularities in the deal came to light, the then UPA government cancelled the deal, blacklisted the company and handed over the investigation to CBI.

"The agency is investigating the cancelled contract of helicopters, but it should also investigate the actual purchase done by the government of Rajasthan in 2005," he said.
"It is not an allegation by Congress, but a report of CAG has pointed out. We have just demanded an inquiry and clarification from the government but there is no reaction from the government and the BJP state president is defending the government," he said.
The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president alleged that the Raje government in 2008 had initiated a process to procure another helicopter at an inflated price of Rs 59 crore.

"The cost of the helicopter was Rs 52 crore and the government had agreed to pay a premium of Rs seven crore to jump the queue to purchase the helicopter as soon as possible but the deal could not be concluded because of elections," he said, adding it should also be investigated that why the government agreed to pay the additional premium.

Reacting to the allegations, BJP state president Ashok Parnami claimed that an expenditure of Rs 1.14 crore was made on chartered flights due to non-availability of pilots for the AgustaWestland helicopter from September, 2005 to January, 2006. He said the expenses were "unavoidable".

The PCC president also demanded that the state government should make proper arrangement for water supply in summer.
"Water crisis is deepening and situation is going to deteriorate in May and June, therefore, the government should make proper arrangements," he said.