CBI should give details of investigation of 'Defsys Solution' in AgustaWestland case - Supreme Court
PTI, New Delhi. The Supreme Court has summoned a status report from the CBI regarding the investigation of an Indian private defense supply company in the AgustaWestland helicopter scam case. The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed by the Central Government, challenging the decision of the Delhi High Court, which had quashed the suspension order against 'Defsys Solutions Limited'.
The High Court had canceled the suspension order of the company on the grounds that the government had issued orders in September 2024 without giving the company a chance to be heard.
During the hearing of the case, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that whatever material has been collected in the investigation since the suspension of the company in June this year, should be presented before the court.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, said the investigation was ongoing and the suspension orders were issued on the basis of facts found in the investigation.
The Supreme Court said that no evidence of bribery or money laundering was presented before the High Court regarding the allegations of scam and it was only the agency's suspicion on the basis of which the suspension orders were given.
Nataraj said courts should generally stay away from interfering in defense matters. On this, the bench said that there can be no compromise with the defense of the country, but the investigating agency cannot be allowed to improve its case as no evidence was presented before the High Court since the investigation against the company was started in 2021.
The CJI said that till now there is only suspicion that this company was a medium for the main accused AgustaWestland. On this, ASG said that this is not a matter of only one company, but other companies are also under investigation. Justice Bagchi asked why the suspension of this company continues when the suspension against AgustaWestland has been withdrawn.
Let us tell you that the suspension orders against AgustaWestland were withdrawn in November 2021 itself. On this, ASG asked for time to get details from CBI in this matter. The CJI asked him to give a report on what the agency has been able to collect so far in the investigation.