AgustaWestland scam LIVE: CBI sends Letter Rogotary to 8 countries, including UAE and Switzerland

All accused sent to four-day CBI custody

Air chief Arup Raha comments on AgustaWestland scam and arrest of SP Tyagi

SP Tyagi talks in court

For the first time former IAF chief SP Tyagi drags PMO in chopper scam. He said, “Rethink on single tender after meeting with PMO.” Tyagi also assures court that he is not running away.

CBI and Tyagi raise points in Patiala house court

According to a report by CNN-News18, here is CBI’s counter to defence lawyers arguments in Patiala house court

Money accepted by Tyagi cousins on promise that SP Tyagi will become IAF chief

SP Tyagi also spoke up in court on the accusations against him on the purchase of agricultural land by him. He said, “Agricultural land bought from 2002, can account for each land purchase. What can be done if the purchase of agricultural land has made me a criminal.”

Defence’s argument in Delhi’s Patiala house court

According to a report by CNN-News 18, these are the defence lawyers’ argument in Delhi’s Patiala house court where SP Tyagi and two other accused were produced.

– Arrests done to distract attention from demonetisation 

– CBI’s decision to arrest Tyagi was illogical

– CBI issued look-out circular in 2013 then withdrew it

– Nothing new in CBI’s allegation

– Khaitan travelled abroad with Judge’s permission and returned

CBI’s arguments in Patiala court

According to CNN- News 18, these are the CBI’s arguments in Patiala House court when SP Tyagi and the two others were produced over the AgustaWestland scam.

– Criteria of 6,000 ft was to fly in areas like Ladakh

– In 2005 when SP Tyagi took over, Agusta did not even have choppers for demonstration

– NSA in 2005 had also opposed single vendor system for procurement

– Minimum flying ceiling became 4,500 ft after Tyagi took over as Indian Air Force chief

– In 2004, IAF had remained firm on 6,000 ft ceiling

– Agusta was ruled out because of ceiling constraints

– A French company was fulfilling criteria of 6,000 ft ceiling

– Searches in Switzerland showed incriminating evidence

– Custody required to confront accused, retrieve bribe money

– Sufficient evidence of bribe being paid to SP Tyagi, others

– SP Tyagi met AgustaWestland officials in private

– Gautam Khaitan routed bribe money from Agusta to India

– SP Tyagi purchased huge agricultural land when he was IAF chief

– SP Tyagi never declared land purchases to any aithorities

– Tyagi has failed to give explanation to give source of the money for land procurement

The CBI is asking for custody because they have certain incriminating evidence against the accused which they cannot reveal now. CNN-News18 reports that evidence from Mauritius and Italy has startling details.

Proceedings begin at Patiala house court

Former chief of Indian Air Force SP Tyagi and two others have been produced in Delhi’s Patiala house court.

Tyagi brothers and Khaitan taken to Delhi’s Patiala court

According to a report by CNN-News 18, CBI has said that all 3 arrested — SP Tyagi, Sanjeev Tyagi and Gautam Khaitan — will be taken for medical examination; The CBI will also seek remand for them to spend 14 more days in their custody. The three accused are taken to Delhi’s Patiala House court.

Tyagi’s interrogation:

The CBI had first questioned SP Tyagi in the AgustaWestland case in May this year. Here’s a full timeline of how the case unfolded: http://bit.ly/2gsaqrG

Biggest since Bofors?

The Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland case is considered to be the most high profile scam to have hit the defence sector since the Bofors scam. Here’s all you need to know about ‘Choppergate’: http://bit.ly/2hcI7P8

‘Undue favours’

A key factor in clinching Tyagi’s arrest was the “undue favours” he is said to have given the British company AgustaWestland, according to the BBC. It also said he channeled funds to bribe others.

Christian Michel ‘surprised’ at Tyagi’s arrest

The alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland scam, Christian Michel, has said the CBI hadn’t questioned him, and said he was “surprised” that SP Tyagi is arrested.

All accused to be produced in court

Tyagi’s court hearing

SP Tyagi will be produced before court on Saturday, CBI has said.

Middleman Christian Michel comes clean

The alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland case, Christian Michel, has said he has never met SP Tyagi. According to CNN-News18, he only admitted to have met Julie Tyagi at a party, and was introduced to him as “a very influential person”.

Political war of word on Tyagi’s arrest: Congress questions timing of arrest

Congress questions why was BJP quiet all this while, for 30 months, when they had all the evidences? “BJP is flustered with the demonetisation backlash and this is just a divisionary tact. BJP, meanwhile, said Congress has always been defensive. A BJP leader said that CBI is finally doing what they are supposed to do and that rattles Congress.

CBI got issued Letters Rogatory to multiple countries

The FIR filed by the CBI mentioned that Tyagi allegedly helped in swinging this deal, specifically by lowering the service height from 6,000m to 4,500m. The FIR, however, doesn’t mention Tyagi having received any money, but says his cousins received payments from Haschke in two remittances to the tune of €1,26,000 and €2,00,000 for ‘consultancy’ services through IDS Tunisia.

CBI had also got issued Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) to multiple countries to gather more leads and evidences in this case. AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini and Guiseppe Orsi, chairman of AgustaWestland’s parent company Finmeccanica, were arrested by Italian police in February 2013 on charges of paying bribes to win the deal.

Probe has shown undue favours shown: CBI

CBI said total deal amount in AgustaWestland was Rs 3,767 crore and bribe amount was 12 percent of main amount. “Probe has revealed undue favour was shown, AgustaWestland Ltd accepted illegal vendors through middlemen/relatives including Sanjeev Tyagi, etc. All three accused arrested under Section 120B, Section 420 IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.”

Congress alleges Tyagi’s arrest a divisionary tactics: Congress

Congress’ Abhishek Manu Singhvi says, there’s no need for reaction after Tyagi’s arrest. Congress leader says the arrest is a divisionary tactics and is politics of sensationalism and innuendos. “Everything about this case is old. What’s interesting is, for 30 months the BJP has tom-tom with this issue, but took no action against it. This is an extremely belated decision.

Wasn’t told formally that Tyagis worked for Agusta: Michel

Speaking to CNN-News18, Christian Michel said, “He was introduced to me as a person who was working in the energy sector and an influential person. I was never told formally that the Tyagis were working for Agusta or helping Agusta in the chopper deal."

Christian Michel says he never met SP Tyagi

Christian Michel, Agusta Westland deal middleman has told CNN-News18 that he never met SP Tyagi. However, Michel has said although that the person who introduced him to Julie Tyagi was an influential person. 

FIR doesn’t mention Tyagi received any money

FIR does not mention SP Tyagi having received any money, CNN-News18 reports. FIR, states though that Tyagi’s cousins received payments from Haschke.

CBI to gather more leads

On 1 January, 2014, India had scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica’s British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.

CBI had also got issued Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) to multiple countries to gather more leads and evidences in this case.

What the FIR said: 

Allegations against Tyagi are that as IAF chief he misused his position by allegedly helping specifically by lowering the service height to 4,500 metres. Reports said Tyagi’s relatives were involved in the deal as well. 

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.

‘First time a former IAF chief has been arrested by CBI’

Tyagi, who retired in 2007, was questioned by the CBI extensively in the past in this case. “This is for first time a former IAF chief has been arrested by the central probe agency,” official sources said.

The Rs 3,600-crore to supply 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland came under the scanner after Italian authorities alleged that bribe was paid by the company to clinch the deal.

Who is SP Tyagi?

Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi, had served as the 20th Chief of Air Staff from December 2004 to March 2007.

Commissioned as a fighter pilot, Tyagi participated both in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. The former Air Chief Marshal had also won the Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal for distinguished service.

How was Tyagi involved in the scam?

According to an earlier report by Firstpost , the Indian Air Force had urged the Defence Ministry to purchase helicopters that were capable of flying in high-altitude areas like Siachen and Tiger Hill. After careful evaluation of the AW101, it was ascertained that it was not capable of flying 6,000 m and above and could only reach up to 4,572 feet.

The alleged middleman in the deal, Guido Haschke, revealed that while AW101 did not meet the technical requirements of the IAF, the deal was signed after
Haschke tweaked the contract with the help of his Indian contacts.

​AgustaWestland allegedly paid €30 million in bribes, of which €20 million was routed through Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

A CBI report that came in later said that prior to Tyagi being appointed as Air Force chief, the IAF had ‘’vehemently opposed’’ the lowering of the altitude requirement. This changed after Tyagi came into the picture and the IAF “conceded to reduce” altitude requirements, allowing AgustaWestland to re-enter the bidding process.

Initial investigations by the Italian prosecutor said that Tyagi had personally met Haschke before, and that the bribery took place via Tyagi’s cousins Julie, Sandeep and Dosca. Tyagi, however, has denied any claims of having met Haschke.

In investigations by the Milan Court of Appeals, particularly in its 225-page judgment, Tyagi’s name appeared more than once. The judgment said, “So, in the absence of contrary indications, it must be concluded that the reward bestowed to ‘Tyagi family’ for their work in support of AW in relation to the race of the Government (of) India for military helicopters amounts to €10,500,000.”

Watch: Former IAF chief SP Tyagi arrested by CBI

Tyagi, three others arrested by CBI