(REOPENS DEL 94)

The Defence Ministry said soon after the issue of alleged bribery came up in the media, it sought information from Italy and the UK about their investigations. "Ministry received more than one communication from Agusta Westland confirming that the statements in the press are "completely unfounded and have been issued with malicious intent" and that "no commissions whatsoever were paid" in the case," it said. The Ministry said a letter was received by it from the Director, Income Tax (Investigations) regarding allegations against Indians possibly involved in the deal as middlemen and seeking information about them. "The current status of the case was conveyed to the income tax authorities in January 2013, in return, the Defence Ministry asked Income Tax to share with it any �credible information�," it said.