NEW DELHI: India has canceled a $770 million helicopter deal with British-Italian company AgustaWestland after accusations it bribed officials, a top defense ministry official said.

Defense Minister A.K. Anthony has said he did not believe AgustaWestland’s denial that it paid bribes to swing the deal for the purchase of 12 helicopters for top politicians.

AgustaWestland, a division of Italian defense group Finmeccanica, denies any wrongdoing.

A spokesman for India’s defense ministry was not immediately available for comment.