NEW DELHI: A designated court on Monday granted bail to former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief S P Tyagi who was arrested on December 9 in connection with AgustaWestland chopper scam case.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted the relief to Tyagi on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of like amount.
Imposing certain conditions on the accused, the court directed him not to try to influence the witnesses and hamper the probe.
The bail applications of two other accused - Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan - are pending before the court is it will hear their pleas on January 4.
During the hearing of the bail plea, former IAF chief’s lawyer Maneka Guruswamy had said that her client "could not be deprived of freedom if the investigation is taking time to complete".
Guruswamy claimed before the court that in the last four years since the FIR was registered, the CBI has never been able to confront Tyagi with any incriminating evidence till date.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing CBI, had opposed the bail pleas of the accused, saying if set free, they might influence witnesses and hamper the "multi-layered probe 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," Mehta said, seeking dismissal of the bail pleas of all the three accused and adding that the matter has "tarnished country's name".
Meanwhile, describing S P Tyagi as a "sound professional", IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha has said he should not have been treated like a "common criminal".
Talking to a news channel, Raha, on arrest of SP Tyagi said that the arrest "obviously" hurts the morale of the people of the armed forces.
"I can't say it doesn't dent our image or reputation. It definitely does and I am sure we will go by the law of the land. And the judicial process will be completed on the (basis of) evidence produced. I will be very happy if he can acquit himself because for the reason that he is the former chief," he said.