Chopper scam: Middleman Christian Michel's driver spills the beans

New Delhi: Investigators have got some ‘vital' leads on the Indian contacts and fund sources of Christian Michel, an alleged defence middleman, after interrogating his local driver here in connection with the money laundering probe in the nearly R3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal.

Officials said Michel's driver, Narayan Bahadur, was questioned at length by ED sleuths in the last few days and he has divulged vital information about contacts of the British national, who has emerged as the crucial link in the case where agencies are probing alleged payment of kickbacks that helped swing the deal in favour of AgustaWestland for supply of 12 choppers for flying VVIPs.

They claimed the driver was getting money through global wire fund transfer services till recently and this could help investigators in locating the current operations and activities of Michel against whom both the ED and CBI have obtained Interpol Red Corner Notices for arrest.

Meanwhile, Public Accounts Committee of Parliament headed by senior Congress leader KV Thomas, which was reconstituted last week, is likely to take up the contentious AgustaWestland case, an issue which has created a political firestorm both within and outside Parliament.