VVIP chopper scam: Bribe money put into ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi's cousins' firms

NEW DELHI: Two partnership companies started by former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi’s cousins were allegedly used to invest the bribe money in the Rs 3,586 crore VVIP chopper deal scam, according to Enforcement Directorate officials investigating the case.

The firms, Krishnayan and Neelkrishna, purportedly owned by Tyagi brothers — Sanjeev, Sandeep and Rajeev — purchased properties in 2010-2012 using the money paid to them in the VVIP chopper deal, they said.

These properties include a flat each in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon whose market value is pegged at about Rs 6.20 crore.

The ED, which issued an attachment order on the properties on Wednesday, said this is a provisional attachment order which can be challenged by Tyagi before the adjudicating authority within one month.

The attachment by ED will only be confirmed once the adjudicating authority passes an order after hearing both the parties. Besides flats, the ED also attached plots owned by Tyagis in Noida and shop purchased in KM Trade tower in Kaushambi.

In its attachment order, the agency said, “Following painstaking investigations, five immovable properties of Tyagi brothers worth Rs 6.20 crore have been provisionally attached.”

The investigation revealed that out of the kickbacks, payment of ¤10,50,000 was made to Sanjeev, Sandeep and Rajeev Tyagi, and their companies, by Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa through their companies Ms Gordian Services Sarl, Tunisia and IDS Tunisia, officials said.

The payment of ¤4,05,625 (about Rs 2.5 crore) to Tyagi brothers was made through the banking channel between 2004 and March, 2011 and remaining payment of €6,44,975 (about Rs 4.5 crore) was made in cash during April, 2011 to December, 2011, following signing of contract in February 2010 for supply of 12 VVIP helicopters, the ED said.

The chopper deal with AgustaWestland was scrapped following the scandal, with both CBI and ED registering an FIR.