AgustaWestland chopper deal: CBI books SP Tyagi for conspiracy but silent on ... - Economic Times

NEW DELHI: CBI has booked former Air Force chief SP Tyagi for criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal, but the first information report (FIR) lodged by the agency does not mention if the former IAF chief received any kickbacks. The FIR mentions that the IAF had agreed to change the specifications of the required chopper "during the tenure" of Tyagi and with his approval. The change CBI has referred to in the FIR is the lowering of the operating height cap for the choppers from 18,000 feet to 15,000 feet. The FIR says IAF had earlier objected to lowering of the height ceiling citing security constraints. The FIR also says that almost coinciding with IAF's approval for this change, Tyagi's three cousins started receiving remittances from middlemen Guido Haschke, but it has not mentioned if the former IAF chief had received any bribe. The three cousins - Sanjeev Tyagi, Rajeev Tyagi and Sandeep Tyagi - have been named accused i n the FIR. CBI, which raided the former IAF chief's residence along with 14 other places in four cities on Wednesday, has mentioned in its FIR that Agusta Westland could only enter the fray after the height ceiling was lowered to 15,000 feet. Eurocopter was the only company qualifying for the deal till that change was made, the CBI says. A defence ministry had earlier said the operational requirements were changed after its consultations with IAF and SPG between March 2005 and September 2006 and a fresh request for proposal was issued on September 27, 2006 to six companies, including Agusta Westland. Tyagi was the Air Force chief from January 1, 2005 to March 1, 2007. During his questioning by CBI last week, Tyagi had said it was former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra who in 2003 had desired the flight ceiling to be reduced to avoid a single-vendor situation. Download ET's mobile applications for iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia and Windows Phone to track news as it happens, live stock quotes, monitor portfolio, get market stats like gainers, losers and movers & much more. To check out free Economic Times apps , Click here CBI has booked former Air Force chief SP Tyagi for criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption in the Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal. via Top Stories - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNHHAAephfOGDu1fn_5Jzyo7nvUvtQ&url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/agustawestland-chopper-deal-cbi-books-sp-tyagi-for-conspiracy-but-silent-on-bribe-allegation/articleshow/18963491.cms

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