NEW DELHI: Coming out in support of former IAF chief S P Tyagi, an accused in the AgustaWestland bribery scandal, IAF chief Arup Raha on Wednesday said the latter is part of the Air Force family and is going through a rough patch in his life.
Virtually defending his former senior colleague, Raha said multiple agencies are involved in the procurement process, which makes it difficult to pin the blame on one particular person or organisation.
Addressing the media two days before he demits office, Raha said, “Till he’s proven guilty, we should give him some respect as he was the former chief of IAF.”
“A former air force chief is like a family member, extended family member. If anybody in my family goes through a rough patch, I think we should stand by that person. If the charges are proved, then we have no sympathy for him. Whatever charges are proved, whatever convictions are there, we will abide by it,” he said and added, “Corruption issues have come up like Bofors. Despite investigation, not much was achieved by investigating agencies.”
Tyagi was arrested by the CBI on December 9 on allegations of receiving kickbacks for giving the go-ahead to procure 12 AgustaWestland helicopters for VVIP duty. On Monday, he was granted bail by a Delhi court.
On Tuesday, Raha had said the arrest “obviously” hurts the morale of the armed forces. “If these corruption charges are proved, it is bad for the armed forces... It is not just the armed forces who are involved in the procurement. There are so many agencies involved. Therefore, you cannot pin the blame on one particular organisation or service,” Raha said just days before he demits office on December 31.
Despite the inking of 36 Rafale fighter jet deal with France, the Air Force will be short of at least 200 warplanes to meet its sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons.
“There is no doubt Rafale is an excellent aircraft and it will prove its worth in any campaign. But, we have only agreed to procure 36 warplanes. We would require 200-250 medium-weight fighter jets in the next 10 years,” Raha said, while stressing the need for setting up a new production line in the country.