New Delhi: CBI on Thursday quizzed a senior Air Force officer as witness in connection with alleged corruption in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP Helicopter deal in which former Air Chief is one of the suspects. Without naming the officer, CBI sources said an Air Marshal level officer was examined as witness to clarify technical issues related to the tender of 12 helicopters for which UK-based AgustaWestland was chosen as successful bidder.
Sources said the agency wanted to know details of alterations done in the helicopter specifications and whether it had suited the UK company. Former IAF Chief SP Tyagi was booked by CBI along with 12 others, including his three cousins for alleged cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy in the deal and searches were carried out at 14 locations including his the former IAF chief's residence.
CBI has alleged that AgustaWestland managed to introduce a comparative flight trial with non-functional engine 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 service ceiling after Tyagi took over as its Chief. It has alleged that Italian middleman Guido Haschke, through his Tunisia-based company Gordian Services Sarl, entered into several consultancy contracts with AgustaWestland from 2004-05 and "almost on back-to-back basis he also made consultancy contracts with the Tyagi brothers (Tyagi's cousins), the sources said.
Under the cover of these contracts, Haschke allegedly sent 1.26 lakh Euros and two lakh Euros to
10:21 PM, May 16, 2013
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has frozen the accounts of all accused in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal including former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi. The CBI FIR had named Tyagi as one of the recipients of alleged kickbacks. The probing agency believes Tyagi tweaked norms so that AgustaWestland could qualify. The CBI had filed an FIR against 12 people including SP Tyagi and his cousins Julie and...
03:27 PM, Apr 23, 2013
New Delhi: Aeromatrix Info Solutions private limited, an accused firm in the Rs 3600 crore VVIP helicopter deal scam, has moved a Delhi court seeking defreezing of its bank account for paying salaries to its employees. The Chandigarh-based firm, in its petition, has said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has frozen its bank account having around Rs 1.4 crore in it and they want money to pay their employees....
05:58 PM, Apr 17, 2013
New Delhi: Allegations of bribes in the AgustaWestland helicopter deal may figure in Defence Secretary level talks between India and the UK on Monday. Shashi Kant Sharma is in London for the annual defence dialogue, but may seek British help to speed up the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe currently underway in the VVIP chopper deal. Cameron is worriedPrime Minister David Cameron had promised assistance in this regard when...
08:15 AM, Apr 08, 2013
New Delhi: Notwithstanding the prospect of being blacklisted over the VVIP chopper scam, Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland has submitted its bid for two military tenders to supply helicopters to the Navy and the Coast Guard. The firm has submitted its response to Indian Navy's tender for procuring 56 naval utility helicopters and Coast Guard's Request for Proposal (RFP) for buying 14 medium-lift choppers, defence sources said. In the naval tender for...
10:42 AM, Apr 07, 2013
Former Air Chief Marshal (retd) SP Tyagi received cash in return for favouring Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland in the controversial Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, the report by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a copy of which is with CNN-IBN, states. The report, however, fails to mention the amount that was paid to the retired chief marshal and the mode of payment. The report also adds that Tyagi's cousins...
06:10 PM, Apr 01, 2013
After the AgustaWestland scandal, the Defence Ministry is planning to tweak its procurement procedures. But insiders claim these changes are unnecessary and misplaced and reflect a knee jerk reaction from the government. South Block is abuzz with reports of an imminent change in the defence procurement procedures. ...
10:28 AM, Mar 26, 2013
Defence Minister AK Antony has admitted there was corruption in the AugustaWestland chopper deal. Speaking in Kochi, the Defence Minister did not name those involved. But he said those involved in the corruption will be brought to book. ...
12:14 PM, Mar 25, 2013
The Defence Ministry has got the 'contract' between AgustaWestland and alleged middleman Christian Michel regarding the controversial VVIP helicopter Rs 3600 crore deal with India. The 'contract' has been provided by the Anglo-Italian firm to suggest that there was no wrongdoing in the deal, sources told PTI. ...
09:59 PM, Mar 21, 2013
Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland on Tuesday replied to Defence Ministry queries, denying any wrongdoing. The Ministry had asked the firm to provide details about its transactions with Tunisia and India-based firms IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix. ...
11:20 PM, Mar 19, 2013
Facing the threat of cancellation of its helicopter deal, AgustaWestland has claimed that there was no wrongdoing in its links with the two software firms, which were allegedly used to pay kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore chopper contract. The Anglo-Italian firm has written to the Defence Ministry, and attached along with a report of an auditor to support its claim. ...
08:20 PM, Mar 15, 2013
As the standoff between Italy and India over the marines issue continues, questions are being raised whether the strain in ties will affect the CBI probe into the AgustaWestland chopper deal. On Friday, India stopped its new ambassador to Italy from taking charge over the marines issue. However, sources said that this may not impact the CBI probe into the chopper deal as long as certain Indian officials are present...
06:33 PM, Mar 15, 2013
Italian firm AgustaWestland has got extension of deadline by seven days from Defence Ministry to explain its links with the software companies that were allegedly used to pay kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal. The Ministry had asked the firm last week to provide details about its transactions with Tunisia and India-based firms IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix. ...
09:02 PM, Mar 14, 2013
In a new twist in the AgustaWestland chopper deal probe, top government officials have questioned the credibility of the investigations being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They say that the CBI is merely focusing on former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi and his cousins, when it should be going after all the government officials who were involved in facilitating the contract. ...
05:13 PM, Mar 14, 2013
Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi helped in swinging the VVIP chopper deal in favour of Finmeccanica subsidiary AgustaWestland by lowering the service height from 6000 metres to 4,500 metres, the CBI's FIR states. The FIR, however, doesn't mention Tyagi having received money in the deal. ...
05:19 PM, Mar 13, 2013
The CBI on Wednesday filed an FIR against 12 people including former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi and his cousins Julie and Docsa in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case. The FIR names four firms and 12 people. ...
10:53 AM, Mar 13, 2013
CBI officials believe that Air Chief Marshal (retd) SP Tyagi accepted a bribe from his cousins to help AgustaWestland's entry into the tender process. ...
09:25 PM, Mar 08, 2013
Gautam Khaitan, former board member of Aeromatrix, one of the companies named in the VVIP helicopter bribery scandal, was on Thursday quizzed by CBI on his alleged links with Italian middlemen. Khaitan, an advocate, who arrived at CBI headquarters at around 10 in the morning, was grilled for nearly eight hours in connection with his alleged links with Italian middlemen - Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschkhe, CBI sources said. ...
08:25 PM, Mar 07, 2013
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday questioned former Director of Aeromatrix Gautam Khaitan in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case. Khaitan was questioned in connection with his links to middlemen in the chopper deal. ...
11:39 AM, Mar 07, 2013
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will question Air Force former chief SP Tyagi and his cousins for a second day on Thursday in connection with the Agustawestland chopper scandal. A preliminary inquiry report was filed last week which named 12 people. ...
07:29 AM, Mar 07, 2013
