AgustaWestland scam: Delhi court grants bail to retired IAF chief Tyagi

New Delhi, December 26

A local court granted bail to former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi on Monday in a case connected to the multi-crore rupees VVIP choppers corruption scandal.

Tyagi has to provide a bond of Rs 2 lakh and surety of just as much money. He has also been warned off against trying to influence witnesses or stalling investigations into the scandal.

The court still has to give its verdict on bail applications of two other suspects in the case — Tyagi’s cousin Sanjeev Tagi and a lawyer, Gautam Kahitan.  

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Tyagi argued in court that investigations were taking a long time — it has been four years since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in the case, he claimed — and he could not be kept in prison until they were done.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the CBI, claimed Tyagi could hamper "multi-layered” investigations “by various agencies in more than one jurisdictions involving several countries".

"We have evidence where the meetings unofficially took place for the purpose of crime. At this stage, please do not entertain their bail pleas. Let the probe be completed," he said, seeking dismissal of the bail pleas of all the three accused and adding that the matter has "tarnished country's name".

Tyagi (71) retired from the armed services in 2007. He was arrested with his cousin Sanjeev and Khaitan on December 9. 

Tyagi has been accused of influencing the deal in favour of Agustawestland during his tenure as the IAF chief.

In March 2013, the CBI had registered a case in the deal. Based on the CBI complaint, ED officials had booked Air Marshal Tyagi and some members of his family. And in July 2014, the Enforcement Directorate registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Tyagi and 20 others in the Rs 3,600-crore deal.

In October 2014, a lower court had convicted Orsi and Spagnolini of falsifying invoices but acquitted them of corruption. Both appealed against the conviction, while the prosecution appealed against the acquittal on the corruption charge.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica’s British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force (IAF) over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 360 crore by it for securing the deal.  — Agencies