AW139 helicopterChhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has denied the allegations of Swaraj Abhiyan leaders that his Government had illegally purchased an AgustaWestland helicopter. In a press conference at Raipur last night, Mr. Singh said, the allegations levelled by former AAP leader Prashant Bhushan are baseless and politically motivated. Stressing that the deal was done through a global tendering process, Chief Minister said, the charges against a BJP-ruled state was an attempt to dilute the issue.

Earlier yesterday, Swaraj Abhiyan leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav in Delhi had accused the Raman Singh government of paying 1.57 million dollars commission to a company registered in tax-haven British Virginia Islands to procure the chopper.