Reduction in service ceiling in contravention of Air Force view, says probe agency in its FIR; adds that PMO had in 2003 said framing of requirements for new copters to ferry VVIPs effectively led to a single vendor situation; IAF had in 2004 decided that the UK-based firm was not a viable option to provide helicopters
NEW DELHI: Arrested former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi not only allegedly tweaked the service ceiling (operational flying height or ground clearance) of the VVIP helicopters in favour of AgustaWestland but also trashed consistent IAF stand that the machines of the UK-based firm were not an option as a VVIP vehicle.
The reduction of service ceiling was also in contravention of considered IAF opinion that “flying with adequate ground clearance was felt necessary where there is perception of threat from the ground”. Jammu and Kashmir has been facing insurgency for about three decades now.
“It was during the tenure of ACM (Rtd.) SP Tyagi as the Chief of Air Staff and with his approval that the Air Force conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters to 4,500 metres as mandatory OR (Operational Requirement), to which it was opposed vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons,” the CBI has alleged in its FIR, a copy of which is with Express.
During the remand hearing before a designated court here on Saturday, Tyagi had claimed that the then PMO was also part of the decision to acquire AgustaWestland helicopters. CBI investigators said the probe so far clearly points to the involvement of the ex-IAF chief, his cousins and other accused persons in the scam. Tyagi’s claim about the involvement of the PMO will be probed once a direction to the effect comes from the court and accordingly, the officials of the then PMO will be examined. The CBI has not ruled out examining former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during whose tenure the controversial contract was awarded to AgustaWestland.
Reduction of service ceiling allowed AgustaWestland, UK, to come into the fray. Its helicopters were, otherwise, not qualified for bids. AgustaWestland was disqualified in 2002 after it failed to bring a machine with 6,000 metres service ceiling for trials as promised by the firm. According to the FIR, AgustaWestland was continuously attempting to enter the competition, by making repeated representations to the IAF since is disqualification in 2002. “After considering the representations from AgustaWestland, the IAF had in April 2004, reached a clear decision that M/s AgustaWestland was not an option for VVIP helicopters due to its failure in meeting the service ceiling mandatory OR,” reads the FIR.
Tyagi was designated the IAF chief in November 2004 and he took over as Chief of Air Staff on January 1, 2005, and remained in office till March 31, 2007. The PMO had in December 2003, after conducting a meeting on November 19, 2003, with agencies observed that framing of mandatory requirements for new helicopters had effectively led to a single vendor situation. “The PMO suggested/advised IAF to keep 4,500 metres mandatory OR service ceiling instead of 6,000 metres... on the basis of inputs provided by IAF according to which VVIPs rarely fly an altitude of more than 4,500 metres,” said the FIR.
The matter was deliberated at several levels thereafter among IAF, NSA, SPG/PMO and MoD. “However, during January 2004 vide its note dated 06-01-2004 to Defence Secretary, the IAF insisted that a helicopter with a ceiling of 4.5 km would be able to land at altitudes that are substantially lower... Lack of adequate high altitude in the VVIP helicopters would mean that these areas (Leh Valley from Srinagar which involves crossing Zoji La Pass and Siachen Glacier from Leh which involves crossing Khardungla Pass etc.) would be cut off for visits by VVIPs/VIPs,” said the FIR. During the NDA-I regime, of the three shortlisted helicopters, EC-225 birds manufactured by Eurocopter were adjudged qualified for acquisition.
Tyagi’s cousins Rajeev and Sandeep Tyagi allegedly received Euro 1.26 lakh after May 2004 and Euro 2 lakh after February 2005 from European middleman Guido Ralph Haschke-linked firm Gordian Services Sarl, Tunisia. Besides these two remittances, the Tyagi brothers also received cash from Haschke and another European middleman Carlo Gerosa “camouflaged” in the form of consultancy fee. “Hashchke and Gerosa in collusion with Tyagi brothers... managed to make inroads in IAF through ACM (Rtd.) SP Tyagi... The above collusion led to softening of the IAF stand on the issue of service ceiling of the helicopters, and the IAF acceded to the proposal of reduction of service ceiling, which it was consistently opposing earlier,” added the FIR.