India targets Swiss-based arms firm in corruption probe

An Indian businessman was charged on Saturday with attempting to bribe government officials in connection with allegations that Swiss-based Rheinmetall Air Defence AG paid him $530,000 to use his influence ...

Indian police arrested on Wednesday two top organisers of last year's tainted Commonwealth Games as part of a widening probe into alleged graft.The two men arrested were the Games' organising committee's director general, V. K. Verma, and its secretary general, Lalit Bhanot, a spokesman for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), told AFP."They have been arrested in connection with a case involving the company Swiss Timing," the spokesman said.

Swiss prosecutors have reportedly indicted a former top executive of Canadian engineering and construction giant SNC-Lavalin, alleging he helped launder millions of dollars used to win contracts in Libya and other North African countries. Riadh Ben Aissa, a former vice-president at the Montreal-based company who has been detained since the spring, is now facing charges related to his role in an alleged scheme connected to $139-million in payments made by SNC-Lavalin, Swiss broadcaster RTS and CBC News reported.

The organiser of the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, protested his innocence Friday after police raided his homes as part of a probe into graft allegations surrounding the event.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at Kalmadi's residences in the capital and the western town of Pune, and at the home of his personal secretary Manoj Bhore.The Games, which were held in Delhi in October, were hit by claims of massive financial irregularities as the budget ballooned to an estimated six billion dollars.

CBI said it had registered a criminal case under anti-corruption laws and named Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland as targets of its probe.

Police on Wednesday questioned the top organiser of the Delhi Commonwealth Games as part of a widening corruption probe into the tainted October event.Suresh Kalmadi arrived mid-morning at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi, where detectives quizzed him over suspect contracts.The Games, which were marred by venue delays and poor organisation, were also hit by claims of massive financial irregularities as the budget ballooned to an estimated six billion dollars.

Police on Wednesday questioned the top organiser of the Delhi Commonwealth Games as part of a widening corruption probe into the tainted October event.Suresh Kalmadi arrived mid-morning at the headquarters of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi, where detectives quizzed him over suspect contracts.The Games, which were marred by venue delays and poor organisation, were also hit by claims of massive financial irregularities as the budget ballooned to an estimated six billion dollars.