Cameron vows to cooperate with India on graft probe
(02-19 14:38)
British Prime Minister David Cameron promised full cooperation with India and its police as a probe into alleged kickbacks in a helicopter deal clouded his meetings Tuesday with leaders in New Delhi.
Cameron arrived in India on Monday with what he called the biggest-ever British overseas business delegation, pushing for better access to the booming market of 1.2 billion people and greater trade, AFP reports.
While keen to still convince India of the merits of the part-British Eurofighter military jets, he has been dogged by another defence deal involving the Anglo-Italian helicopter maker AgustaWestland.
Italian authorities made arrests last week during an investigation into bribes allegedly paid to secure the US$750-million contract in 2010, and leaks to the press indicate one of the accused middlemen is based in London.
The helicopters are being made in southwest Britain.
"I haven't received an approach (from the Indian government about the case). Any approach we do get we will obviously cooperate with in full,'' Cameron told Indian channel NDTV.
"These are allegations that have been made and the Indian authorities and the Italian authorities will want to get to the truth. If there are unacceptable practices then that needs to be dealt with.''
The first allegations of wrong-doing emerged last year, but India's government has said it was unable to gain information from Italian or British governments about their investigation.
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