Swiss authorities have arrested the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal, Guido Ralph Haschke, on charges of bribery. An Italian news website reported that Haschke could be brought to Italy by next week in case he prefers not to appeal against extradition proceedings before the Swiss Federal court.

The 3,600-crore rupees VVIP AgustaWestland helicopter supply contract is under probe of Italian and Indian agencies for alleged kickbacks paid to Indian officials to clinch the deal.

CBI, which carried out the probe in India, had named 13 individuals, including former IAF Chief SP Tyagi and European middlemen Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke, in the FIR as accused, in connection with the alleged bribery.