CBI to finish Embraer deal probe by November 2025

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plans to finish its investigation into the $210 million Embraer deal by November 2025. This investigation has been ongoing since 2016. Officials say the CBI is awaiting responses from several countries regarding judicial requests before filing any new charges. The deal involved the supply of three EMB-145 aircraft, agreed upon by India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Brazilian company Embraer in 2008. Allegations suggest that Embraer used a middleman, Vipin Khanna, who died in 2019, to influence Indian defense officials. It is claimed that Khanna received $5.76 million for facilitating the deal, which he used to sway ministry officials. In June 2023, the CBI submitted its first charge sheet, naming Arvind Khanna (Vipin's son), businessman Anoop Kumar Gupta, and lawyer Gautam Khaitan. Investigations are still open regarding public servants and others involved in the deal. An officer stated that the agency has issued six letters seeking information from countries including the UK, Singapore, and Brazil. Some countries have responded, but Brazil is still expected to provide further details. The CBI's first charge sheet outlines the events leading up to this deal, stating there was a need for an airborne early warning system following a terrorist attack on the Indian parliament in 2001. The Indian Air Force identified the EMB-145 as a suitable option for this purpose. The investigation includes testimonials from 35 witnesses and over 8,000 pages of documents as evidence. Embraer has not replied to requests for comment.