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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: In what spells out more trouble for Sushen Mohan Gupta, the alleged middleman in the French aviation company Dassault’s alleged agreement with a Chandigarh based software firm IDS Infotech, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has found bills for his vacation in Thailand in December 2010 on New Year eve. The CBI chargesheet, in a separate investigation on AgustaWestland scam, has made these disclosures. The bills for Gupta’s vacation were allegedly paid by Mauritius-based Interstellar Technologies Ltd.
Earlier this year, Sushen Mohan Gupta, whose name surfaced in the AgustaWestland case for allegedly influencing the deal, has denied any relationship with the companies and dubbed all the charges against him as baseless and false. Also Read & Watch: Agusta Middlemen Close To Ex Cong Mantri Family Got Dassault To Route 10 mn Euro ‘Bribe’: Witness, Bank Records
The CBI during the probe into the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case found that Sushen Gupta booked Thailand’s VV Retreat Koh Samui from December 29, 2010 to January 2, 2011. The bookings were made on December 15, 2010 for an amount of 401,856 THB.
The documents in possession of The New Indian team showed that Sushen Gupta booked the hotel under his own name. But, to make the payments, Interstellar Technologies wrote a mail on December 17 asking the Bramer bank to remit Euro 11,000 into the bank of Amburaya Properties, Koh Samui. The amount of Euro 11,000 was remitted into Thailand’s Siam Commercial bank where Amburaya Properties held its bank account as of December 20.
The CBI has received the attested copy of the bank transactions and remittances in 2018.
This is another clinching revelation against Sushen Mohan Gupta in the CBI’s supplementary chargesheet which was filed before a Delhi Court in September 2020. The chargesheet runs into over 12,400 pages.
The can of worms for Sushen Gupta opened after Lt General (retired) Balraj Thakar in his statement to the CBI mentioned that Gupta transferred money into the bank account of his daughter in the US through Interstellar Technologies.
Earlier, The New Indian was the first point out the relationship between Sushen Gupta and the UPA era minister and Congress leader Saantosh Bagrodia’s family based on the key statements given by Dheeraj Aggarwal, the-then manager (accounts) of a Chandigarh-based company IDS Infotech, and Manish Kumar, who worked in the corporate department of OP Khaitan and Company, the law firm of advocate-businessman, Gautam Khaitan. The two were actively in touch between 2005 and 2019, the CBI confirmed in its supplementary chargesheet.
In his statement, Aggarwal told the CBI, “On being asked, I state that I knew that Sushen Mohan Gupta, son of Dev Mohan Gupta, is a relative of Manish Bagrodia, son of Late Satish Bagrodia, (also brother of MoS for coal Santosh Bagrodia in Congress government). However, I never met him.”
Further, Bagrodia’s brother Late Satish and his son Manish were directors at IDS Infotech, the company that allegedly entered into a 40 % commisison arrangement with Dassault Aviation.
Mauritius-based company Interstellar Technologies Limited and Singapore-based company Interdev Pte Ltd, were used to allegedly park and transfer money to India, the receipts and witness statements of company officials have now been revealed.
The fresh documents reveal that the same middlemen, who were trying to bring 12 AgustaWestland VVIP choppers, were also eyeing favourable deals for Dassault — the maker of Rafale jets to India.
Earlier this year, Sushen Gupta issued a statement through his legal team denying any wrongdoing. He was arrested by the ED in connection with the probe in March 2019 and later, released on bail.
In his statement, Sushen Gupta had denied all charges against him and lashed out at the media for false reporting. “All allegations, insinuations or claims of any impropriety, irregularity or illegality involving Gupta or companies are vehemently denied and rejected as being false, baseless and mischievous,” the statement read. “Gupta or his companies are not involved in any manner in the Indo-French transaction for acquisition of 36 Rafale jets,” it claimed. Also Read & Watch: India Pushes, World Responds: 2 NRIs Behind Annapurna’s Return
A separate ED chargesheet has alleged that kickbacks from AgustaWestland and other deals were placed in the bank accounts of Interstellar Technologies, a company allegedly controlled by Sushen Gupta, and the accounts of Rajiv Saxena, an accused-turned-approver.
