AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal: CBI custody of former IAF chief SP Tyagi extended by 3 days

A Delhi court extended the CBI custody of former Air Force chief SP Tyagi and two other co-accused by three days on Wednesday in connection with the hearing in the Rs 450 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal bribery case.

The CBI had produced the trio before the court on the expiry of their four-day police remand in the case.

The co-accused are Tyagi’s cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and advocate Gautam Khaitan.

The trio were sent on a four-day custody by the court on December 10 after the agency said their interrogation was essential to unearth a "very large conspiracy having international ramifications".

Besides Tyagi, the court remanded his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie and advocate Gautam Khaitan, also arrested in the case related to procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from UK-based firm during the UPA-2 regime.

Read | All you need to know about SP Tyagi: Former IAF chief arrested in AgustaWestland scam

While the CBI sought 10 days' custody of these accused for quizzing them, the counsel appearing for the former IAF chief claimed in the court that decision to procure VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was a "collective" one and Prime Minister Office (PMO) was also a part of it.

"It was a collective decision and not his (Tyagi's) individual one. It was a collective decision of which PMO was also a part," senior counsel N Hariharan, appearing for Tyagi, told the court, adding, "The file moved through several levels but I am the only one who has been arrayed as accused."

CBI alleged 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 his income.

The CBI will on Wednesday produce former Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi and his two co-accused before a Delhi court on the expiry of his five days’ police remand in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter bribery case. The co-accused are Mr. Tyagi’s cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and advocate Gautam Khaitan.

(With inputs from agencies)