On 12 February 2013, Italian police arrested Orsi, and Public Prosecutor Eugenio Fusco ordered him held in jail in Busto Arsizio, near Milan. Orsi's lawyer, Ennio Amodio, said in an interview that the arrests of Orsi and of Bruno Spagnoligni, his successor as head of AgustaWestland, "decapitate the heads of two companies that are important for the Italian economy." In a written statement, Finmeccanica expressed support for Orsi. A report stated that Orsi's arrest, coming shortly before a national election, was "particularly politically sensitive because the Italian state owns slightly more than 30% of the defense company, making it the single largest shareholder." Orsi said he would step down from his position if asked to by the government. A few hours after Orsi's arrest, Shashikant Sharma, Defense Secretary of India, said his government had ordered an investigation of helicopter deal. On 13 February, Spagnolini was also placed under arrest and the Finmeccanica board appointed group COO and CFO Alessandro Pansa to serve in Orsi's place. Two days later, the firm announced that Orsi had officially resigned as chairman and as a board member. Orsi said he had resigned in order to "help calm the atmosphere." "The Wall Street Journal" noted that Orsi's arrest came at a time when prosecutors in various Italian cities were "investigating the company on suspicion that it engaged in corrupt activities to win various types of contracts in Latin America, Asia and at home," probes that had led to other arrests. Massimo Vecchio, an aerospace analyst for Mediobanca, said that Orsi's arrest risked damaging the international reputation and competitiveness of Finmeccanica. Orsi was held for some 80 days in pre-trial detention. On 4 May 2013, he was freed from jail pending trial. Prosecutors alleged that the kickbacks allegedly paid with Orsi's knowledge were standard practice at Finmeccanica. Orsi and Spagnolini went on trial in Milan on 5 June 2013, on charges of fraud and corruption. According to the "Wall Street Journal", the case had "convulsed" Finmeccanica because it "risked worsening its relationship" with a major client, the Indian government. In January 2014, the Indian government canceled its helicopter deal with AgustaWestland. In July 2014, prosecutors asked that Orsi be sentenced to six years in prison for paying bribes.