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Antony said the Indian government has been trying to get

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Press Trust of India
details from Italy since the beginning of the controversy around a year ago. "After we saw reports, the Indian media reports of arrests and investigation going on in Italy, immediately we wrote to the Indian Ambassador in Italy to get the details from the Italian government and also the prosecutor who is conducting the inquiry," he said. The second step, he said, was to involve the External Affairs Ministry to seek a report from governments of Italy and Britain. "The second step (was) through the Ministry of External Affairs. Our government contacted the Government of Italy and Government of United Kingdom because AugustaWestland is a British company and major shareholder is British. MEA wrote to both the countries again," he said. From the day one we have been trying to find the truth, Antony said, adding that the countries were specifically asked about alleged involvement of some Indian in the scam. "Second report came on involvement of some Indian we again asked both the government is it true about this allegations. Is it true that Indians are involved," he said. Asked whether the scam will impact other deals under consideration with AugustaWestland and Finmeccanica, Antony said such an action will depend on the result of CBI inquiry. "Let CBI inquire this. Everything depends on CBI inquiry on this... We have already given this issue to the CBI. Let us see the progress of CBI inquiry. At any stage of the inquiry, if anybody is guilty, anywhere in the deals, they will have to pay the price," he said. He said no time line has been fixed for the CBI to give its report.

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First Published: Feb 13 2013 | 12:30 PM IST

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