SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Police in India have arrested former air force chief SP Tyagi as part of an alleged corruption probe that involved the transfer of luxury helicopters with Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation said Tyagi had given the company “undue favors” and had funneled money to bribe others. His cousins, Julie Tyagi and Docsa Tyagi, were also arrested as part of the alleged scheme.
A criminal case was also filed against the firm and its parent company, Finmeccanica, in March 2013. The scandal first came to light after Finmeccanica’s chief Giuseppe Orsi was arrest in Milan the same year. The Italian authorities said they had been investigating him for bribery and embezzlement for several months.
Italian investigators also named Tyagi in a preliminary inquiry submitted to an Italian court.
Tyagi has vehemently denied the charges, saying the Prime Minister’s office at the time tweaked the deal in favor of the UK-based helicopter maker.
Incumbent air force chief Arup Raha described Tyagi’s arrest as “unfortunate,” and said it had “dented” its reputation. “But we believe in the rule of law,” he added.
The CBI told a Delhi court that Tyagi had “abused his official position” when he was the air chief marshal, and made huge investments in land and other properties without disclosing his source of income. To this, Tyagi said he could give an account of all his land investments.
India’s defense ministry cancelled the $753 million, 12-helicopter deal in 2014, after announcing that it would carry out its own investigation into the matter. The luxury helicopters were intended to carry the Indian president, prime minister and other VIPs.
