4-day CBI custody to Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and others in chopper scam
10 December, New Delhi
A Delhi Court Saturday ordered four-day CBI custody to the former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi and others in the Rs 3,767-crore Agusta Westland chopper scam case. It is alleged that the former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev alias Julie Tyagi and a Delhi-based lawyer, Gautam Khaitan, were involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from Britain-based Agusta Westland.
Counsel for CBI requested for ten-day remand of all the accused for detailed questioning. CBI told the court that they were investigating the scam and needed more time. Counsel for CBI submitted that Agusta was engaging middlemen regularly, bribes were paid and investigation was going on.
“We have received LRs from Mauritius and Italy. They have given us information. So we need to interrogate these accused persons,” said the counsel for CBI. Counsel for SP Tyagi said, “We are unable to understand why CBI is seeking police remand. After FIR was registered these alleged accused are being questioned several times. There is no need of custodial interrogation.”
He submitted that the CBI already have all the evidences against the alleged offence. “I can give evidence that the money, as alleged, was earned from agricultural land so there was no need of arrest,” he said. He further said that procurement of chopper deal was a collective decision. CBI argued that a larger conspiracy was done in this chopper scam, and that needed to be investigated. CBI said, “In 2004, new Central Government was formed and the Air Force was denying to compromise on flying height of copters. When SP Tyagi assumed the charge on January 1, 2005, Augusta was perused for consideration again and again on the basis of different attributes of choppers. ”
The CBI argued that in 2002, there were 11 global parties to appear in the bid. Finally, only four parties fulfilled the criteria. Later Augusta was found not for requirement due to flying height of copters. CBI said the proposal was initiated by Air Force to buy new VVIP Chopper.
All the three accused persons have been arrested under Section 120B, Section 420 IPC and the provisions Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI said its probe revealed that undue favours were shown to Augusta Westland Ltd, which accepted illegal vendors through middlemen including Sanjeev Tyagi, who is a relative of SP Tyagi. Metropolitan Magistrate Sujit Saurabh today after hearing arguments on behalf of the prosecution and Defence Cousel allowed four days CBI custody to quiz SP Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie Tyagi and Delhi-based lawyer, Gautam Khaitan till December 14.