{ VVVIP CHOPPER SCAM CASE } Why work with Agusta, but ban its 'conduit': SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Union government for continuing to suspend business dealings with Defsys Solutions Private Limited, a defence supplier, over its alleged role in the Agusta-Westland VVIP chopper scam, even though the suspension imposed on AgustaWestland (now part of Italian firm Leonardo SpA) itself -- the principal accused in the case, was revoked in 2021.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed its reservations about the rationale behind the Centre's repeated suspension orders against Defsys, observing that "mere suspicion" or "speculation" could not form the basis for such punitive action, particularly when the main accused company had already been cleared by the government.