BackChopper deal: CBI names ex-IAF chief in preliminary probe
Fourteen others, including three cousins of S.P. Tyagi, have also been named along with four companies
Premium(Hindustan Times)
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday registered a preliminary enquiry against former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, his three cousins, and 11 others over allegations of kickbacks in the purchase of 12 helicopters from Anglo-Italian defence company AgustaWestland, a unit of Finnmeccanica SpA.
The agency formally launched an investigation after its officials returned from Italy with documents related to the purchase of the helicopters and the prosecution of Finnmeccanica chief executive officer (CEO) Giuseppe Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini, CEO of UK-registered AgustaWestland. Both were arrested in Italy on 12 February for allegedly paying bribes to Indian officials through middlemen Guido Ralph Hashcke, Carlo Gerosa and Michael Christian.
All of them, including the two companies, have been named in the preliminary enquiry. Two Indian companies, IDS Infotech Ltd and Aeromatrix, have also been named in the preliminary enquiry.
“The CBI has registered a PE (preliminary enquiry) against the then chief of air staff; five private persons; Italy-based company and its CEO; UK-based company and its CEO; three middlemen and two India-based private firms in the matter of procurement of 12 AW101 VVIP/VIP Helicopters from UK-based company," the agency said in a statement.
“It is alleged that in the procurement process of the helicopters, some middlemen have influenced the deal in favour of UK-based company. It is also alleged that Italy-based company paid commission in terms of several millions of euros to the middlemen," the agency said.
The preliminary enquiry, which is not a formal case and can be rejected if the allegations are found to be untrue, mentioned that middlemen allegedly paid large sums of money to several Indian nationals in the guise of engineering contracts signed with the two Indian companies out of their share of commissions.
“The money was routed to Indian companies from Tunisia and Mauritius. The two middlemen are directors in one of the India-based private companies, in which one private person works as chief operating officer and he allegedly has a role in channelizing money for illegal purposes," the agency said.
Tyagi, who has denied allegations of wrongdoing, said, “This is a welcome news." He had said previously that he would welcome an enquiry.
While one of his cousins refused to comment, the others could not be immediately reached.
Pravin Bakshi, CEO of Aeromatrix, said he will cooperate with the investigating agency.
“Since the enquiry has been ordered, we will provide full cooperation and all required information to the authorities," he said.
Gautam Khaitan, who was on the board of directors of Aeromatrix till October 2012 and named in the preliminary enquiry, was not available for comment. IDS Infotech could not be reached.
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