AgustaWestland scam: CBI questions Andhra governor

The CBI Wednesday questioned Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan in Hyderabad in connection with alleged graft in the procurement of AgustaWestland VVIP choppers for 556.262 million euros (Rs.3,726.96 crore), officials said.

Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned the governor at Raj Bhavan for nearly two hours.

The CBI team, which flew in from Delhi, recorded Narasimhan's statement under section 161 of Code of Criminal Procedure. It also questioned him to gather information about the controversial deal.

Officials said Narasimhan was questioned as a witness in the case as he was heading the Intelligence Bureau in 2005 when the chopper deal was finalised.

The deal was struck in 2010 but was cancelled last year following allegations of graft in the purchase of 12 choppers for the use of VVIPs.

Narasimhan is currently serving as the governor of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states.

Narasimhan, 68, is the third governor to be quizzed in the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which previously questioned former Goa governor B.V. Wanchoo and former West Bengal governor M.K. Narayanan.

The agency interrogated Narayanan and Wanchoo last week as witnesses and they resigned soon after.

The CBI had booked former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, his three cousins and nine others last year. - IANS