Chopper deal: CBI requests arrest warrant against accused

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday moved an application in a court  here seeking direction to issue non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Christian Michel James, an accused in chopper deal case.

The CBI filed an application before a court requesting to issue an open-ended non bailable arrest warrant against James, who, according to informed sources, has been referred as a major beneficiary of the AgustaWestland chopper deal by the probe agency.

The court has fixed September 23 for considering the application.

The CBI also moved one application for request to issue letters rogatory and letter of request to the competent authority in Mauritius for assistance in investigation and collection of documents.

The CBI on March 13, 2013 registered a first information report against former air force chief S.P. Tyagi and others in the VVIP chopper deal case.

Firms Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech Ltd. (India) and Aeromatrix India were also booked as accused in the case.

A bribery allegations in the Rs.3,600 crore deal for 12 AW-101 choppers were being probed by the investigating agency.

IANS)