ED quizzes ex-IAF chief Tyagi

Former IAF chief SP Tyagi was on Thursday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP helicopter deal after being quizzed for days by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case.

Tyagi arrived at the agency’s zonal office here around 11 am and sources said he his statement might have been recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ex-IAF chief has been questioned in the same case by the CBI for three days. This is the first time that he has been summoned by the ED.

Agency sources had earlier indicated that Tyagi'’ questioning was necessary in the light of a recent judgement of a Milan (Italy) court, which had sentenced Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica’s former chief Giuseppe Orsi and the former CEO of the firm Bruno Spagnolini in corruption charges in the sale of a dozen AgustaWestland helicopters to India for VVIP purposes.

Tyagi’s name cropped at various points in the said judgement. The allegation against the former Air chief is that he allegedly reduced the height of the VVIP helicopters so that AgustaWestland could be included in the bids.