News India AgustaWestland scam: CBI quizzes former IAF chief SP Tyagi

AgustaWestland scam: CBI quizzes former IAF chief SP Tyagi

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will today interrogate former IAF chief SP Tyagi in connection with its probe into the AgustaWestland choppers deal.

SP Tyagi SP Tyagi

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)  is interrogating former IAF chief SP Tyagi in connection with its probe into the AgustaWestland choppers deal, as the agency plans to confront him with new evidence and documents.

The CBI had on Friday issued summons to Tyagi. The ex-IAF chief is accused of modifying the requirements in order to seal the deal with AgustaWestland.

The investigating agency had on Saturday quizzed former IAF deputy chief JS Gujral 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. The investigating agency had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also issued summons to Tyagi.

The VVIP chopper deal is once again in news from last few days after an Italian court referenced middlemen mentioning top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, James Christian Michel, another accused middleman in the chopper deal, has offered himself up for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. In an interview to a leading daily Michel claimed he had no hand in the helicopter scam and never signed any document in this regard. He also rubbished the reports that he paid huge amount to Indian officials to buy favours.

 

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