Cheating probe into Air India deal

New Delhi: The CBI has filed a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against unknown officials of Air India, German firm SAP and global computer major IBM over alleged irregularities in procurement of software worth Rs 225 crore by the national carrier in 2011. "The agency took up the case after a complaint in July last year from the Central Vigilance Commission that had prima facie found irregularities in the purchase of (SAP's) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software," CBI spokesperson R.K. Gaur said today. The CVC had asked the CBI to probe if any "undue benefit was caused to SAP/IBM" and if anybody in the government derived any gains. In a note to the CBI, the CVC said the initial probe by Air India's chief vigilance officer showed SAP's software was selected without following proper tender procedures. The proposal was accepted the very day it was put forward. The carrier also did not justify the need for ERP when a similar system made by Oracle was already in use. Private airlines had purchased the same ERP software at a lower price, the note, now part of the FIR, alleged. "The misconduct of officials involved in finalising the contract is glaring," the note alleged. Emails to SAP and IBM seeking their reactions remained unanswered.