CBI chargesheet against ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday filed a chargesheet against former Air Force chief SP Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev, former air marshal JS Gujral, and alleged middleman Guatam Khiatan, five foreign nationals, and three entities in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal.

The total estimated loss due to the now scrapped deal stands at Euro 398.21 million, sources said.

The accused persons and the entities have been chargesheeted for offences under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act related to abuse of official position by public servant and bribery. The chargesheet was filed at the Patiala House Court.

The CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry on February 25, 2013 and converted it into a regular case on March 12, 2013. The agency had conducted searches at the premises of the accused persons on March 13, 2013.

The accused Indian and European middlemen had allegedly conspired with the then IAF chief for not only revisiting the service ceiling of the VVIP copters, but had also revised operational requirements of the machines to make AgustaWestland eligible for the tendering process.

The accused officials allegedly received "huge illegal gratification" under the guise of consultancy received by the middlemen's companies from AgustaWestland.