Author: Ritu Sarin
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 27, 2006
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/5250.html
Two weeks after the Australian media reported
that official documents had confirmed commissions to the tune of $2.5 million
(Rs 11.25 crore) being paid into a Cayman Islands account for the 1998 Indian
wheat import deal, South Block has formally been informed about the development.
Top Government sources confirmed to The Indian
Express that the Indian High Commission in Canberra has been apprised of this
by Attorney General Philip Ruddock's office.
Deputy High Commissioner Vinod Kumar is understood
to have informed MEA which, in turn, has routed it to the Commerce Ministry
and the CBI.
While Kumar declined to comment, a spokesperson
for the Attorney General's office replied to a questionnaire from The Indian
Express: "The Attorney-General's Department is liasing with the Indian
High Commissioner on whether the confidential nature of these arrangements
(CBI's request for mutual assistance) might be waived in this instance in
a bid to further clarify our position.'' While Australian authorities claim
they co-operated with India during investigations and responded to the CBI's
Letter Rogatory in 2001, the CBI says it was forced to file a closure report
in the absence of any concrete information from Canberra.
Said the Australian spokesperson: "The
Government completely rejects any assertion that Australia did not cooperate
in the matter.''
Meanwhile, in Australia, political pressure
is mounting on th government after reports that the Australian Wheat Board
(which was in 1998 owned by the Government), did not inform the Federal Police
about commissions being paid for the India deal.
