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AgustaWestland case: Supreme Court dismisses Centre’s appeal against Delhi HC order to lift suspension of business with Defsys

The Supreme Court noted that without fresh evidence against Defsys, it saw no reason to interfere with the Delhi High Court's order.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 19, 2026 03:41 PM IST

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's appeal on Defsys order

The Supreme Court asked how Defsys be proceeded against after AgustaWestland has been given a reprieve. (Source: File)

The Supreme Court Monday dismissed the Centre’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s order to lift the suspension of business with Defsys Solutions Private Ltd after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that it had yet to come across any adverse material against the firm. Defsys has been suspended from doing business with the government over its alleged involvement in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.

Hearing the Centre’s appeal challenging the August 28 order of the Delhi High Court setting aside the suspension order, the Supreme Court on December 16 asked the agency to produce any fresh evidence it may have collected against the firm.

On Monday, Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj informed a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi that the CBI had not come across any fresh material against the company.

Justice Bagchi also wondered how the company can be proceeded against after the principal offender, AgustaWestland, has been given a reprieve.

Appearing for Defsys, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi said, “I have not taken a single rupee from AgustaWestland.” He added that in the AgustaWestland case, 12 years have passed, but the investigation is still ongoing.

“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.

The court also said that if the agency lays its hands on any fresh material in the matter, it will be entitled to proceed in accordance with the law.

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On the last date of hearing, Justice Bagchi had asked the government, “Your case before the HC was Augusta is the principal offender, chargesheeted, and money from Augusta moves through Defsys. Now Augusta being given a reprieve, how can you proceed against Defsys?”

The court said that in view of its order dismissing the appeal, the company may approach the competent authority in the Ministry of Defence for redressal of its grievance regarding the suspension order.