CBI files closure report in the seven-year-old bribery case in Barak missile deal

The CBI has filed a closure report in the seven-year old case of alleged bribery in the 1,150 crore rupees Barak missile deal. Former Defence Minister George Fernandes and the then Naval Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar were accused in the case.

The agency filed a closure report before the Special CBI court in Patiala House saying replies received from foreign countries do not substantiate the allegation of kickbacks leveled against the state-run company Israel Aircraft Industries, former Samata Party officials Jaya Jaitley and RK Jain, Fernandes and Kumar.

CBI sources said judicial requests were sent to the United Kingdom, UAE, Mauritius, Germany and Israel seeking details of financial transactions and other details of accused persons involved in the case.

During the probe, the CBI said it did not find any evidence on the allegations leveled during the sting operation carried out by Tehelka. It was alleged that Fernandes’ associate Jaya Jaitley and others had received a bribe of two crore rupees in the 1,150 crore rupees Barak missiles deal in 2000.