VVIP chopper scam: CBI questions former Air Force chief SP Tyagi
NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday examined former IAF chief SP Tyagi in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.
Tyagi arrived at CBI headquarters at around 10am for questioning. The investigating agency had issued him summons on Friday.
CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case.
The allegation against the former air chief is that he had reduced flying ceiling of the helicopter from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids.
However, this decision was reportedly taken in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Minister’s Office including then NSA MK Narayanan.
The investigating agency had quizzed former IAF Deputy Chief JS Gujral on Saturday in the case.
Both, Tyagi and Gujral were questioned at length in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after recent order of an Italian Court which indicated corruption in the deal.
The court has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal.
AgustaWestland’s Rs 3,600 crore contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force was scrapped by the former UPA government over charges of paying kickbacks to Indian agents.
In January 2013, India cancelled the deal and the CBI was assigned to investigate the matter.
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