VVIP Choppers Deal: CBI court issues non-bailable warrants against 3 EU nationals; former IAF Chief involved too

New Delhi, October 12: A CBI Court today issued non-bailable warrants against three foreign nationals- Carlo F Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke- who are allegedly involved in a Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal case. The court also summoned another accused, including former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief SP Tyagi. 

 

All of the accused have been asked to appear before court on December 20. A total of 94 Indians, 3 companies and 5 foreigners are also named in the chargesheet. Tyagi is the first Chief of IAF who has been added in the chargesheet related to the case. CBI said Tyagi, in conspiracy with others, reduced service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters and revised operational requirements to make AgustaWestland eligible and eliminate competition.

The initial cost of 12 VVIP choppers were approximately Rs 2,666 crore but were signed in a deal that was worth Rs 3,726 crore in the year of 2010. The government had to bear a loss of more than Rs 1,000 crore due to corruption. The charge sheet had also named retired Air Marshal J S Gujral, Sanjeev Tyagi, cousin of SP Tyagi, and middleman Gautam Khaitan, whose shell companies were allegedly used for routing the money.