Augusta Westland scam: Middleman Carlo Gerosa granted conditional bail; timeline for extradition fixed

The key middleman in Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal, Carlo Gerosa, has been granted conditional bail by a court in Italy on Thursday. Though, he was given bail but will be restrained by Italy.

Italy also set timeline for extradition.  It was reported that Gerosa had multiple identities.

Earlier on Thursday, Gerosa has been apprehended by authorities in Italy on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe in the ₹3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

“The global police has informed the agency of his detention and an extradition request is being moved,” a senior official privy to the probe said.

The official said Gerosa was held when he was coming from Switzerland to Italy.

A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now working on this case, the official said.

Mr. Gerosa, 70, is one of the three alleged middlemen wanted in this case and his interrogation and statement is very important for both the ED and the CBI who are probing the case.

The ED has notified an Interpol red corner notice (RCN) against Mr. Gerosa and two others — British national Christian Michel James and Italian Guido Haschke — last year.