Rajasthan chopper for sale

The allegations of bribery in the acquisition of choppers from AgustaWestland have left the Rajasthan government in a spot for purchasing a chopper from the company earlier.

The state government, which burnt its fingers by acquiring the chopper nearly eight years ago for the movement of VIPs, is now desperately looking for buyers. 

The VIPs are scared to use the helicopter as it developed technical snags twice with chief ministers on board, forcing emergency landing. The chopper is now lying unused at the state hanger and the state Civil Aviation Department is finding buyers to sell it off.

Principal Secretary, General Administration, Chandra Mohan Meena confirmed that the state government has decided to sell the chopper and is looking for buyers. The chopper, an Agusta 190 E, was purchased in 2005 during the tenure of former chief minister Vasundhara Raje at a cost of Rs 20.01 crore. 

The deal has come in for scathing criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in its report on 2008.  The CAG has reported that the state government incurred a loss of about 1.14 crore due to the procedural lapses in the purchase of the helicopter. But no enquiry was conducted.

Interestingly, when the chopper was purchased, there was no trained pilot available in the country to fly it and it remained unused for two years.

When it finally started flying, the helicopter developed technical snag and had to make emergency landings while carrying then CM Vasundhara Raje. Ashok Gehlot in different incidents.  After the incident, the chopper was taken out of duty.