Former UK govt employee to be AgustaWestland's India head

AgustaWestland, which is surrounded by controversies over the VVIP chopper deal, is appointing Jackie Callicut -- a former British government employee -- as its India head.

Callicut has earlier served in India in her capacity as a British government employee. She  has also dealt with defence ministry operations in her country, officials said on Monday.

The affairs of AgustaWestland in India were earlier being looked after by Paulo Girasole, who left India last year. The controversial deal for supplying 12 AW-101 helicopters to the Indian Air Force were signed during his tenure as head of Finmeccanica, which is the owner of the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland.

AgustaWestland is facing a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation after the arrest of its former CEOs Guiseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini in connection with the payment of kickbacks to the tune of Rs 362 crore in the VVIP chopper deal.

CBI has named the former CEOs of the company in its FIR in the case, along with former IAF chief S P Tyagi and his three cousins.

The defence ministry has already issued a show-cause notice to the company, asking it to explain why the deal should not be cancelled, in view of the charges against it.