Sushen Mohan Gupta was arrested on Monday by the agency after he remained evasive during the questioning, said people with direct knowledge of the matter. Gupta will be produced before a local Court today where the agency will seek his custodial interrogation

by Raghav Ohri

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a “defence agent” for his alleged role in routing kickbacks paid to influential people involved in the VVIP chopper scandal.

Sushen Mohan Gupta was arrested on Monday by the agency after he remained evasive during the questioning, said people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Informed sources told ET that Gupta is linked not only to the AgustaWestland chopper deal but also to “many other defence deals”. Gupta is believed to be close to several politicians and influential persons, said people quoted above.

Gupta was named by Rajiv Saxena, the “key money launderer” turned approver in the case. Gupta is alleged to be in possession of handwritten “incriminating diaries” containing information on kickbacks paid to swing the chopper deal in favour of AgustaWestland. Saxena, in his judicial confession, had revealed the “pivotal” role played by Gupta in routing kickbacks. Saxena’s statement also reveals role of another individual, relative of top Congress leader who is also likely to face arrest in the coming days, said people privy to the developments.

Gupta will be produced before a local Court today where the agency will seek his custodial interrogation. Gupta was recently quizzed by the agency several times. He chose to remain evasive and non-cooperative during his questioning on Monday following which he was arrested by the agency, said people aware of the developments.

On Monday, a special CBI Court allowed Rajiv SAxena’s application to turn an approver. Saxena has become the first approver in the high profile VVIP chopper scam. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had strongly supported Saxena’s application seeking pardon and become a witness in the case. The application was today allowed by the Court.

ET had reported on March 13 that Saxena in his judicial confession, recorded earlier this month, explained the “modus operandi” adopted in routing kickbacks allegedly paid for swinging the deal in favour of British manufacturer AgustaWestland. Saxena was described as the “key money launderer” by ED.

In a related development, the agency also filed a charge sheet against co-accused in the case, Advocate Gautam Khaitan.

“Gautam Khaitan holds bank accounts either singly or in joint names of his family members as well as corporate structures with beneficial interest in three banks in foreign jurisdiction namely, Barclays Bank, Singapore Bank and UBS Bank.On the analysis of his foreign bank accounts, it was revealed that Rs 850 crores approximately in foreign currencies are received from suspected accounts. Gautam Khaitan has created structures viz companies which are under his control to launder the Proceeds of Crime related to criminal activities such as kickbacks of defence deals” ED has said in its charge sheet.