AgustaWestland scam: Delhi court grants bail to retired IAF chief Tyagi

New Delhi : A local court granted bail to Former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi on Monday in a case connected to the multi-crore rupees VVIP choppers corruption scandal.
Tyagi has to provide a bond of Rs 2 lakh and surety of just as much money. He has also been warned off against trying to influence witnesses or stalling investigations into the scandal.
The court still has to give its verdict on bail applications of two other suspects in the case — Tyagi’s cousin Sanjeev Tagi and a lawyer, Gautam Kahitan.
Tyagi argued in court that investigations were taking a long time — it has been four years since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR in the case, he claimed — and he could not be kept in prison until they were done.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the CBI, claimed Tyagi could hamper “multi-layered” investigations “by various agencies in more than one jurisdictions involving several countries”.
“We have evidence where the meetings unofficially took place for the purpose of crime. At this stage, please do not entertain their bail pleas. Let the probe be completed,” he said, seeking dismissal of the bail pleas of all the three accused and adding that the matter has “tarnished country’s name”.
Tyagi (71) retired from the armed services in 2007. He was arrested with his cousin Sanjeev and Khaitan on December 9.