New Delhi, September 10

The $208 million jet deal with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer during the UPA regime has kicked up a storm with US authorities going into alleged payment of kickbacks while India has sought information from the company within 15 days.After Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) receives information, further steps may be initiated, the Defence Ministry said today after reports emerged that the 2008 deal has come under the scanner of the US Justice Department which has been probing Embraer for alleged payment of bribes to secure contracts.“The DRDO has sought information from manufacture of Embraer aircraft within 15 days on media reports on aircraft deal signed in 2008,” Defence Ministry sources said.“On receipt of information by the DRDO, further steps may be initiated,” they said.The deal was signed in 2008 between Embraer and the DRDO for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&C (airborne early warning and control systems).The BJP attacked the Congress with Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying they thought the stories of Congress corruption would be less heard since change of power in 2014. However, every deal is giving signal of taint. “The past of UPA always keeps on appearing with alarming regularity,” he said at a press conference at the BJP office.The company has been under investigation by the US Justice Department since 2010 .