AgustaWestland deal: CBI questions former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi

New Delhi : The Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) on Monday questioned former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi in connection with alleged corruption in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal.Sources in the CBI said the focus of today’s questioning were bribery allegations and the Italy court’s judgement.
The questioning will continue tomorrow.The top investigative agency has said that they are trying to figure out the purpose of Tyagi’s visit to Italy after retirement, adding that the former Air Force chief’s accounts and asset details are also being looked into.Sources say that the CBI would also call Tyagi’s cousins and alleged middle man in the case, Delhi-based business man, Gautam Khaitan, for questioning soon.The CBI had on Friday issued summons to Tyagi as part of its ongoing probe in the AgustaWestland choppers deal. The ex-IAF chief is accused of modifying the requirements in order to seal the deal with AgustaWestland.The investigating agency had quizzed former IAF Deputy Chief J.S Gujral on Saturday in the case.Both, Tyagi and Gujral were questioned at length in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after recent order of an Italian Court which indicated corruption in the deal.The court has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal. The investigating agency had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case.