VVIP chopper scam: CBI charges former IAF chief SP Tyagi, others

On January 1, 2014, India had scrapped the contract with AgustaWestland for supplying VVIP choppers to IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations.

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Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a 30,000-page chargesheet against former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi and nine others in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.

The chargesheet was filed before Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar and also names Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev alias Julie along with advocate Gautam Khaitan in the Rs 450 crore bribery case.

Michel James, the alleged middleman and retired vice chief of Air Staff JS Gujral too have been named. 

The FIR also names former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini, former Finmeccanica Chairman Giuseppe Orsi and the Anglo-Italian company, AgustaWestland, as accused in the case.

"How the bribe money reached India, how several firms, through which the money travelled, came into existence and that Sanjeev was known to alleged European middleman Carlo Gerosa is mentioned in the chargesheet," IANS quoted an official as saying.

The choppers were for the Communication Squadron of the IAF for ferrying the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The VVIP chopper deal was worth Rs 3600 crore.

Facts about the case:

Tyagi, who retired from the IAF in 2007, is the first chief of the Indian Air Force to be named in a corruption or a criminal case by the CBI.

He along with Sanjeev and Khaitan were arrested on December 9 last year by the agency in connection with the case.

Tyagi was granted bail on December 26 after being interrogated by the CBI in its custody for seven days.

CBI has alleged that Khaitan was the 'brain' behind how the bribe money reached India and several firms, through which the money travelled, came into existence and that Sanjeev was known to alleged European middleman Carlo Gerosa, PTI reported.

The agency has also alleged that during his tenure as air chief, Tyagi and with his approval the Air Force, conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6000 metres to 4500 metres as mandatory, which it had been earlier opposing on the grounds of security constraints and other reasons.

CBI has claimed that the reduction of the service ceiling or the maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally, allowed AgustaWestland to come into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not qualified for submission of the bids.

It has further alleged that AgustaWestland had managed to introduce a comparative flight trial with non-functional engines and eventually succeeded in getting the contract for supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from the Defence Ministry, mainly due to softening of the IAF on the service ceiling issue after Tyagi took over as its chief. 

Tyagi has denied the allegations and has said that the decision was reportedly taken in consultation with officials of the Special Protection Group and the Prime Minister's Office.

On January 1, 2014, India had scrapped the contract with AgustaWestland over alleged breach of contractual obligations.

(With Agency inputs)