"Many people who had some links with Agusta, I am not saying illegitimate links, but some links with Agusta procurement and supply, were given good positions," Parrikar told PTI in an interview.
Asserting that they were good to the powers at that time, he said, "They were close to the powers at that time. They were favourites. So obviously, they were placed there to ensure this deal goes through. It is an indirect evidence."
He was asked to elaborate on his remarks that people linked to Agusta deal were given governorship, ambassadorship among others.
He had made the remarks during an interaction with TV channels.
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"If you see, many people from there (Agusta days) are sitting in good positions. Someone became governor, someone became an ambassador, I am not questioning them but one has become constitutional authority.....(These) people are at good positions....
"Who do you make an Ambassador? Who do you make a constitutional authority? Only those whom you trust. It proves that they believed in them otherwise they would not be in positions," he had told a TV channel.
Former Air Force Chief N A K Browne, currently India's Ambassador to Norway, has strongly refuted as "baseless and malicious" reports that he was a "common link" in three major defence deals involving AgustaWestland, Rafale and Pilatus aircraft.