NEW DELHI: CBI has registered a case against NRI arms dealer Vipin Khanna and two companies based abroad in a case of alleged kickbacks worth over USD 5.70 million in connection with three aircraft deals with Embraer signed in 2008.
CBI sources said today that Khanna, whose name had figured earlier also in defense deals probed by the agency, has been booked along with two companies – Brazil-based Embraer and Singapore based Interdev Pte Ltd – in connection with the deals totaling USD 208 million.
It is alleged that the kickbacks were allegedly routed from subsidiaries of Embraer to Khanna through Interdev.
The sources said the agency had carried out searches at several locations here yesterday. The operation continued till late in the evening.
Khanna had faced CBI probe in a gun deal involving South African company Denel in which the agency had to file a closure report as it could not gather enough evidence from abroad.
He had also faced the agency probe in the Barak missile deal with Israel and sale of arms to Pakistan. Khanna is believed to be a relative of a former Congress leader and his son was an MLA in Punjab till last year.
The sources also said that it is alleged that the commission in Embraer deal was routed through Austria and Switzerland.
They said the agency, which had registered a preliminary enquiry in September, has converted it into a regular FIR on October 18 as enough prima facie material has been found by it to proceed in the case.
The deal for the three aircraft which were to be used by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for air-borne radar systems was inked with Embraer in 2008.–PTI
