Chopper scam: CBI questions ex-IAF Chief SP Tyagi for 10 hours, probes his Italy visit

NEW DELHI: Accelerating its probe into the VVIP chopper deal, the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday interrogated former Air Force chief SP Tyagi. It is looking into a visit he made to Italy after his retirement, besides probing his bank accounts and other assets. Investigators suspect he visited Florence, Milan and Venice.

Tyagi, who has been named in the Italian court verdict that ruled bribes were paid by middlemen to swing the 2010 chopper deal in favour of AgustaWestland, is likely to be questioned again this week, CBI officials said, adding that others, including accused lawyer Gautam Khaitan could also be examined.

CBI officials said that they were investigating bribery charges mentioned in the Italian verdict. Tyagi’s questioning went on for several hours. Others, including three of his cousins — described as ‘Tyagi brothers’ in the Italian court verdict and are identified as the route through which the alleged bribes were paid — are also likely to be questioned this week.

As reported by ET, the CBI and ED are stepping up their probe into the scandal and are trying to establish the money trial of the alleged bribes amounting Rs 360 crore. Tyagi, investigators said, has confessed to having met alleged middlemen during his service and post-retirement but insisted that he has nothing to do with fixing the deal.

While Tyagi and his cousins have been questioned by CBI in the past too, fresh questions were posed after CBI got the Italian court verdict, first reported by ET on April 25. Officials said that several accused as well as witnesses are likely to be questioned throughout the week.