The Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, has sent a letter to the Indian embassy in Italy seeking details on the arrest of Guido Ralph Haschke, the alleged middleman in the 3,600 crore Rs AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, by Swiss authorities. The arrest was made in Switzerland yesterday on the request of Italian authorities probing allegations of bribery in the contract for 12 VVIP helicopters.

The helicopter contract is under probe of Italian and Indian agencies for alleged kickbacks paid to Indian officials – including former IAF chief S P Tyagi – to clinch the deal. Haschke, who is among 13 accused booked by CBI in connection with the case, will be extradited to Italy next week.