Tyagi and others remanded to four-day CBI remand
NEW DELHI: Arrested former Air Force chief S P Tyagi on Saturday told a designated court that the decision to procure VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was a "collective" one and Prime Minister Office (PMO) was also a part of it.
Tyagi’s accusations came during a hearing of the remand petition moved by the CBI. The CBI had on Friday arrested Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev and lawyer Gautam Khaitan and produced them before the court on Saturday.
The trio was arrested in connection with the alleged Rs 450 crore bribery case in the Rs 3767 crore VVIP chopper procurement deal.
While the CBI has sought 10-day remand of the accused for confronting them with one another, the court sent them for four-day police custody.
Arguing to seek their remand, the CBI said their interrogation was essential to unearth a "very large conspiracy having international ramifications".
Senior counsel N Hariharan representing the former IAF chief claimed in the court, "It was a collective decision and not his (Tyagi's)individual one. It was a collective decision of which PMO was also a part. The file moved through several levels but I am the only one who has been arrayed as accused."
CBI told the court that Tyagi had "abused his official position" and when he was the Air Chief Marshal, he had made huge investments in land and other properties and have not disclosed the source of his income.
At this point during the argument by the CBI counsel, the former AIF chief, who was present in the courtroom, told the magistrate," My agricultural lands were bought from 2002. I can give account of all my land investments if they (CBI) want. In this country when you are arrested. Full stop. Nothing else can be done. They have taken great care of me, I will put that in record. However, every time, I was handed over summons, I came. They came and took me. I have always reported to them on phone. I told them I am not into running away.”
Opposing the former IAF chief’s remand, his counsel said that,"As per CBI allegations, conspiracy and the money transaction was going on since much before I came into picture."
The lawyer representing Sanjeev and Khaitan also opposed the CBI's remand plea contending the FIR was lodged over three years ago and there were no fresh grounds to arrest them at this stage.
However, the CBI alleged that Khaitan was the "brain" behind how the bribe money reached India through dubious means. Khaitan was known to alleged European middleman Carlo Gerosa.
After hearing the arguments, the magistrate remanded the three accused to CBI's custody till December 14 saying, "considering the seriousness of allegations and gravity of the matter, I am of the considered opinion that CBI custody of the accused is required for a fair probe".
SP Tyagi, 71, had retired from service in 2007 and was booked in a corruption case by the CBI in early 2013. He has been in the past questioned by the CBI a number of times.
Former IAF chief Arup Raha said Tyagi’s arrest “obviously impacts adversely on the reputation of a very professional force.”