Shashi Kant Sharma. (File Photo)
The CBI has sought prosecution sanction from the government to chargesheet former Defence Secretary and Comptroller and Auditor General of India Shashi Kant Sharma and former Air Vice Marshal Jasbir Singh Panesar in the AgustaWestland helicopters deal case.
Sharma, who was joint secretary in the Ministry of Defence when the Rs 3,600 crore contract was being discussed, and Panesar are among five individuals whom the agency wants to prosecute.
The others are former deputy chief test pilot S A Kunte, Wing Commander (Retd) Thomas Mathew, and Group Captain (Retd) N Santosh.
Sources said the CBI is ready with a supplementary chargesheet in the alleged case of corruption, popularly referred to as the VVIP chopper scam, against middleman Christian Michel. Investigators have found evidence against Sharma and the four Indian Air Force officers, and have accordingly sought sanctions, they said.
A note recovered during searches in Switzerland had a mention of “JS Air”, along with the initials of several people. This note, an alleged “budget sheet” prepared by Michel, had also found mention in a court in Milan which was hearing the case.
The Milan court said in its order that the…
