Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi was granted bail by a court in the VVIP Chopper Deal Case on Monday.
Outgoing Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha said that while his predecessor SP Tyagi was like a "family member", the Indian Air Force would have no sympathy for him if he is convicted for his alleged role in the AgustaWestland scam.
"A former Air Chief is like an extended family. If anyone in my family goes through a rough patch, I think we should stand by them.. If charges are proved, then - of course - we have no sympathy," Mr Raha said, according to news agency IANS.
"Whatever charges are proved, whatever convictions are there, we will abide by it," Air Force chief Arup Raha said.
Former Air Force chief SP Tyagi was arrested, along with his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan, on December 9 for allegedly taking bribes to help AgustaWestland secure a lucrative deal to supply a dozen helicopters meant for the country's top political leaders.
"Such issues have come up from time to time. Be it Bofors or some other acquisitions, there have been problems," Mr Raha said, addressing the media days before his retirement. He also added that law of the land must be followed.
He further stated that it would be "bad for the armed forces, or whoever is involved" if the corruption charges are proven true.
"It is not only the armed forces that are involved in procurement. There are so many agencies involved. Can't pin the blame on one particular organisation or service. To my mind many of the issues that have sprung up in the recent times have their origin some time back, a decade back. These are being investigated. It is premature for me to say anything," Mr Raha said.
He, however, added, "Despite investigations, not much could be achieved by the investigating agencies to pin down people who are involved in corrupt practices."
Former Air Chief Marshall SP Tyagi, 71, was granted bail by a court on Monday on the condition that he will leave Delhi or try to contact any witness in the case.
(With inputs from PTI and IANS)