New Delhi:
SP Tyagi, the former chief of the Indian Air Force, has denied allegations that he influenced a 4,000-crore deal for VVIP helicopters in favour of Italy's AgustaWestland. The CBI is now investigating the agreement."I am innocent. These allegations are totally baseless and I am denying them categorically," Mr Tyagi said, pointing out that India signed the deal in 2010, three years after he retired.
Mr Tyagi and three brothers who are his cousins have allegedly been named by Italian prosecutors who yesterday arrested Giuseppe Orsi, the head of AgustaWestland's parent company, Finmecannica.
Speaking to NDTV today, Mr Tyagi admitted that the "other Tyagis named in the report are my cousins." He also said that he met one of the middleman named in the report at his cousin's residence but added that he "had no dealings with him."
(Highlights of what Mr Tyagi told NDTV)"I have no information on SP Tyagi. Unless I get some information, we cannot take names," said Defence Minister AK Antony.
Mr Tyagi was chief of the Air Force from 2004-2007. AgustaWestland was chosen in 2010 to supply a dozen helicopters to India for use by VVIPs like the President and Prime Minister.
Reuters says that Italian prosecutors, who have been investigating Finmecannica for bribes paid at home and abroad, have claimed that middlemen operating on behalf of Agusta connected with Juli, Docsa and Sandeep Tyagi, cousins of the former air force chief.
The brothers were asked to pressure Indian officials and help doctor the tender terms to favour AgustaWestland, Italian prosecutors alleged in documents.
"All changes in requirements and specifications have to be approved by Ministry of Defence," Mr Tyagi said today, countering allegations that the tender for the helicopters may have been tweaked under his influence. "The tender was issued at my time, but no specifications were changed in my tenure."
Italian prosecutors say that in a major revision to benefit AgustaWestland, the required altitudes at which helicopters could operate was dropped from 22,000 to 15,000 feet. India has said that without this change, only one vendor would have been eligible for the deal.
The Italian inquiry also states that tender terms were also changed to introduce an engine failure flying test. This favoured AgustaWestland as its helicopters were the only ones in the tender operating with three engines.