Supreme Court Rejects Centre's Challenge in AgustaWestland Case
The Supreme Court has firmly dismissed the central government's appeal. This appeal challenged a Delhi High Court order that lifted the suspension of business with Defsys Solutions Private Ltd. The court made this decision after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed it had not discovered any new adverse material against the company.
No Fresh Evidence Against Defsys
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi heard the case. Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj represented the Centre. He informed the court that the CBI, following the Supreme Court's earlier directive, had not come across any fresh evidence implicating Defsys.
The court had previously asked the agency to produce any new material it might have collected. With none presented, the justices saw no reason to interfere with the High Court's judgement.
"Pursuant to the liberty granted by this court on December 16, 2025, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, on instructions from the CBI, states that as of now, no adverse material has been found against the respondent. That being so, we see no reason to interfere with the impugned judgement of the High Court. The SLP (special leave petition) is accordingly dismissed," the Supreme Court noted in its order.
Questions on Proceeding Against Defsys
Justice Joymalya Bagchi raised a significant point during the hearing. He questioned how the government could proceed against Defsys when the principal offender, AgustaWestland, had already received a reprieve. This query echoed the court's earlier stance from the previous hearing.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Defsys. He strongly defended his client, stating, "I have not taken a single rupee from AgustaWestland." Rohatgi also highlighted the prolonged nature of the investigation, noting that twelve years have passed since the AgustaWestland case began, yet the probe continues.
Background and Implications
Defsys faced suspension from government business due to its alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scandal. The Delhi High Court had set aside this suspension order on August 28. The Centre then appealed to the Supreme Court, leading to this dismissal.
The Supreme Court clarified that if the CBI later uncovers any fresh material, it retains the right to proceed according to the law. The court also suggested that Defsys may now approach the competent authority in the Ministry of Defence to seek redressal for grievances related to the suspension order.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's insistence on concrete evidence for legal actions. It also highlights the challenges in prolonged corruption cases where investigations span over a decade without conclusive findings against all accused parties.
