Transcripts of bugged telephone conversations have plunged an Anglo-Italian company deeper into trouble for alleged bribery over a defence deal. The taped conversations, coupled with whistleblower testimony to Italian prosecutors, shed light on the role of a British businessman, Christian Michel, as a middleman in the allegedly corrupt contract in which the Indian Air Force bought 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland for €556 million.

UK authorities are failing to help India investigate alleged bribery over a defence deal with an Anglo-Italian company – despite promises by prime minister David Cameron. Exaro can reveal that the UK government has stalled over formal requests for assistance made by India as it investigates the allegations surrounding AgustaWestland, a UK subsidiary of Finmeccanica, the Italian defence contractor.

Demands by tax officials for client lists and other third-party data sets have increased by nearly a half since the coalition government came to power. Figures released to Exaro under the Freedom of Information Act show that HM Revenue & Customs used its powers to obtain “bulk information” many more times in the tax year just ended, compared with 2010-11.

Analysis by Exaro shows that the number of UK companies going into administration or receivership is falling this year compared to 2012. The total number of administrations and receiverships fell by just over a fifth in the three months to April compared with the same period last year. However, the analysis also shows that liquidators are being appointed to more companies.

Investigators at the Serious Fraud Office are preparing to drop their investigation into allegations of bribery surrounding a contract to overhaul Saudi Arabia’s military communications. A key SFO insider told Exaro that the director, David Green, was working out how to manage the decision to drop the investigation, saying that it had already “been left for dead” and was “gathering dust”. Update 25 April 2013 3.15pm.