SP Tyagi is like family, but won't have sympathy if he's found guilty: IAF chief Arup Raha

Outgoing Air Force chief Arup Raha came out in support of former chief SP Tyagi, recently arrested in the Rs 3,600 AgustaWestland helicopter deal case being probed by the CBI, drawing a parallel with the Bofors case where charges of corruption could not be established.

Calling Tyagi a member of the Air Force family, Raha said his sympathies were with the former chief. "If a member of your family goes through a rough patch, you will have sympathy for him. If he is found guilty, punish him," Raha said on Wednesday while addressing a press conference. He is due to hang up his uniform on December 31.

Raha appeared to downplay the allegations, saying nothing could be proved as in the Bofors case. "Corruption issues have come up from time to time. Despite investigation, not much was achieved," he said.

Tyagi, who has been granted bail, was recently arrested three years after CBI named him as an accused in the helicopter deal. The agency was not able to file a charge sheet but arrested him for custodial interrogation based on new facts.

A Delhi court granted Tyagi bail despite CBI's opposition. It is alleged that as Air Force chief Tyagi took kickbacks to change the specifications of the VVIP helicopters, swinging the deal in favour of AgustaWestland.