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: CBI has issued a lookout notice against a former IAF chief in connection with alleged irregularities in procurement of VVIP helicopters, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday. In a written reply to the House, he said, "CBI has issued Lookout notice against a number of individuals in India including a former chief of IAF in connection with the said case." Though Antony did not...
08:15 PM, May 06, 2013
New Delhi: Facing a CBI probe for its alleged role in the payments of kickbacks in the VVIP chopper deal, Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland on Tuesday said it has sought time from the Defence Ministry to discuss its contract with India. "AgustaWestland International Ltd (as the formal 'seller') has formally sought bilateral discussions with the Ministry of Defence, which is a legal obligation under the contract and is currently awaiting a response,"...
04:06 AM, May 01, 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: Against the backdrop of recent scams in defence purchases, Defence Minister AK Antony on Monday said the armed forces should have "transparency" in their functioning. Inaugurating the bi-annual Army Commanders' Conference in Delhi, he expressed concern over the regional security situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan and expressed confidence that the armed forces would be prepared to meet the challenges. "You should work towards having transparency in your functioning,"...
03:30 AM, Apr 09, 2013
New Delhi: CBI is likely to start questioning suspects this week in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal. CBI sources said the agency is likely to call former Air Chief SP Tyagi and his cousins for questioning. They said that they are planning to question all the accused who are present in India, but did not elaborate on which suspects...
07:07 PM, Apr 07, 2013
A CBI report states that 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 helicopter deal. The report, however, fails to mention the amount that was paid to the retired Air Chief Marshal and the mode of payment. The report also adds that Tyagi's cousins received nearly 3,26,000 euros during the course of the deal. ...
11:46 PM, Apr 01, 2013
A neurosurgeon in Chennai has offered some hope saying that Shailaja may be able to regain partial movement. ...
09:21 PM, Apr 01, 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
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
Italian prosecutors have asked for extradition of Swiss resident Guido Haschke who allegedly allege acted as an intermediary for bribes paid to Indian officials to win the 560 million-euro contract for 12 helicopters. ...
01:25 PM, Mar 23, 2013
CBI has issued look-out notices for former IAF Chief SP Tyagi, his three cousins and five other Indians who have been named in its FIR in the alleged kickbacks received by them in Rs 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal. CBI sources said a look-out notice has been issued to prevent them from leaving the country from any airport. ...
07:49 PM, Mar 17, 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
Former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief SP Tyagi has named former Special Protection Group (SPG) chief Bharat Vir Wanchoo as being one of the men responsible for making alterations to the terms of the AgustaWestland deal. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to question Wanchoo who enjoys constitutional immunity, as the current Goa Governor. ...
07:21 AM, Mar 09, 2013
In a huge setback for former Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to file an FIR against him under sections of cheating and bribery in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal. ...
11:37 PM, Mar 08, 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
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
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday questioned former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal case. Earlier reports had said that Tyagi would be questioned on Thursday. ...
04:30 PM, Mar 06, 2013
