The Agusta Westland aka Choppergate case took an interesting turn when there was mention of someone referred to as “RG” in the middle man Sushen Mohan Gupta’s diary. The special public prosecutors DP Singh and NK Matta have mentioned this individual called “RG”. The account with the holders initials as “RG” was found to have an amount of Rs 50 crore against it in Gupta’s diary.
The agencies reported, “More than Rs 50 crore shown to have been received from ‘RG’ between 2004 to 2016, whereas the ‘RG’ identified by Gupta, i.e., Rajat Gupta, had admitted to have cash transactions wish Sushen from 2007 onwards and the same are being quantified”. Rajat Gupta, when asked has denied of any such transaction taking place. He said he is not the person “RG” is referring to in the document. This “RG” could be anyone, a politician , a bureaucrat, a foreign party influencer. The mystery is yet to be solved.
The Enforcement Directorate has said that Sushen is not coming clean. He is not coming with the true fact about who is the “RG” mentioned in his journal. Sushen Mohan Gupta was arrested on the information provided by another middle man turned approver Rajiv Saxena to the ED.
The 2010 Agusta Westland case is about India’s biggest defence scam. The UPA government signed a deal with Agusta Westland for AW101 choppers. The company’s CEO Bruno Spagnolini was then arrested for bribing the middlemen in order to secure a deal with the IAF. Former PM Manmohan Singh, Cong Supremo Sonia Gandhi, the then defence minister AK Antony and foremer IAF Chief SP Tyagi were put to question with regard to this case. The fact was revealed that even after an opposition by IAF earlier for AW101, the chopper deal was brought in only after Mr. Tyagi became the IAF Chief.
My Nation also reported about Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Puri’s involvement in the case and ED is yet to interrogate him. The news portal has further reported, “Sushen was allegedly in “active connivance with Gautam Khaitan for the laundering of the proceeds of crime in the instant case.” The proceeds of the crime were “further transferred/laundered by the sad accused through various companies in different countries”.
The ED has also informed the court that some loose sheets, other documents and pen drives have been recovered from Sushen. The suspense around the identity of “RG” remains a puzzle for the ED and the nation. The claim made by Sushen Mohan Gupta about “RG” being Rajat Gupta has been denied by Rajat Gupta and the ED is persistent to find out the true identity of “RG”.
