Govt moves to lift procurement ban on firm linked to VVIP chopper scam

The Union government has decided to lift the ban on dealings with Italian defence giant Leonardo SpA, earlier known as Finmeccanica, whose subsidiary had been involved in the alleged scam surrounding the Rs 3,500-crore VVIP chopper deal, a senior official said.

The official, who is from the Defence Ministry, stressed that the lifting of the ban was based on certain conditions the company will have to comply with. The main clause will be that the company cannot raise any commercial claims or file civil litigation against India for any of the earlier deals.

He confirmed that the ban on dealings with Leonardo SpA and its subsidiaries has been lifted.