British National, the alleged middleman arrested in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers case, Christian Michel has disclosed that of the various abbreviations as mentioned in the Budget sheet containing the details of the kickback, when Enforcement Directorate filed a charge sheet against him. As part of the budget list, the abbreviation “AP” is su[posed to mean a prominent Congress politician who has denied any involvement in the case when he was enquired by the Enforcement Directorate.
The agency in its supplementary charge sheet file under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said that “a part of kickback was received by defense officials, bureaucrats, media persons and important political persons of the then ruling party.” The agencies are probing the political connections and money laundering aspects of the VVIP Chopper contract.
As per the charge sheet mentioned by ED, the abbreviation “AP” means the name o a political leader in Congress party Ahmed Patel and “fam” might be referring to a “family.” The supplementary charge sheet has come up with three new names – Michel’s business partner David syms and two companies Global services FZE, UAE, Global Trade and commerce Ltd-apart from the 38 previously named accused in the case.
The charge sheet said that according to the “budget sheet”, 30 million euros were paid to the Air Force officers, bureaucrats, and politicians to manipulate the deal in their favor for purchasing the choppers to ferry VVIPs across the country.
At another place in the charge sheet, Michel made the statement, “I cannot say what Haschke was thinking. As I guess, I would think he was talking about Ahmed Patel.”
Special judge Arvind Kumar said that he would decide on whether to take cognizance of the EDs supplementary charge sheet and summon the accused on April 6.
The name of the Congress political veteran in the AgustaWestland might come as an icing on the cake for BJP with Ahmed Patel being involved in the case.
Ahead of the elections, the AgustaWestland might as well become political fodder for the political parties to accuse the other of the scam and the kickbacks received from it.