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

Former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force Shashindra Pal Tyagi was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland choppers deal case.

Shashindra Pal Tyagi is accused in an Italian Investigation into bribes paid to secure a Helicopter Contract. According to the unverified testimony of an Italian businessman, Air Marshal Tyagi accepted illegal payments to change the technical specifications of the helicopters which favored Augsta Westland which was finally awarded the deal.

Air Marshal Tyagi was born in Indore on March 14, 1945. Before becoming Air Chief Marshal, he was commanding the Western Air Command of the Air Force.

Also read | CBI arrests former Air Force Chief SP Tyagi, 2 others in AgustaWestland case

Tyagi was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on December 31, 1963. Former Air Force chief has seen action in 1965 and 1971 wars.

Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi took over as the 20th Chief of Air Staff of the Indian Air Force from 31 December 2004. He did his schooling from St Xavier School in Jaipur.

In the rank of Air Marshal, Tyagi was appointed as the SASO of Central Air Command for short period of time. He took charge of the AOC-in-C of Central Air Command not soon after. He is among the few officers to have the achievement of commanding three Air Commands, Central, South Western and Western Air Command.

The initial years of Tyagi’s career in the Air Force, Tyagi flew Gnats with No.23 Squadron and later served with Hunters of No.27 Squadron. He was one of the pioneer batch of eight pilots selected for conversion on the Jaguar Interdiction aircraft when it was launched in 1980s. Whilst training at Lossiemouth, he was one of the two Indian pilots chosen for a Photo Recce Course at Coltishall with No.41 Squadron RAF.