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| EMB-145 with DRDO's Radars mounted (Image: Embraer) |
By: Vivek Raghuvanshi
NEW DELHI — The Indian government has asked the national anti-fraud agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to probe corruption charges against Embraer of Brazil surrounding the purchase of three EMB-145 aircraft from the company in 2008 by state-owned Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for its indigenous airborne early warning and control systems (AEW&C) program, according to a senior Ministry of Defence (MoD) official.
"The government will also use diplomatic channel to ask the US and Brazilian authorities on the matter," the official said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Embraer has been under investigation by the US Justice Department since 2010 after a defense contract with the Dominican Republic raised suspicions of kickbacks. The US investigation has extended to examine Embraer's business dealings with eight more countries, including Saudi Arabia and India.
Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo last week reported that the possibility of bribery in the 2008 Indian deal was on the US Justice Department's radar.
Embraer executives were unavailable for comment.
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