Tyagi gets bail in VVIP chopper case
New Delhi, Dec 27, 2016, DHNS:
Former Air Force chief S P Tyagi was on Monday granted bail, 18 days after his arrest by the CBI in the AgustaWestland case. The special court said the apprehension that Tyagi will influence witnesses “appears unfounded”.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted bail to Tyagi on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and a surety of the same amount, but imposed conditions like that he will not try to influence witnesses or leave the National Capital Region without the court’s permission.
The court will hear the bail petitions of two others — his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan — on January 4.
Tyagi was arrested on December 9, following years of probe into the case registered in 2013. The case had rocked the country following charges of bribery to the tune of around Rs 450 crore paid by Finmeccanica, the Italian company that produces AgustaWestland choppers, through a maze of companies. Tyagi also became the first former military chief to be arrested.
The court felt that the CBI’s “apprehension” that he may tamper with evidence is “without any basis” and that he would influence witnesses who had been subordinate to him during his tenure “appears unfounded”.
The court noted that during the last three years and nine months after lodging the FIR, a lookout notice against Tyagi was withdrawn by the CBI, his accounts were defrozen after the investigation agency gave its “no objection” and he was allowed to travel.
Rejecting CBI’s arguments to deny bail, the accused has joined the investigation as and when called by the CBI and has also been questioned in custody. “No purpose will be served keeping the accused behind the bar,” the order said.
The CBI said, “Certain new dimensions have emerged,” and Tyagi’s release at this moment would “seriously hamper” further investigation and lead to “alerting other potential witnesses and also destruction of evidence”.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted bail to Tyagi on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and a surety of the same amount, but imposed conditions like that he will not try to influence witnesses or leave the National Capital Region without the court’s permission.
The court will hear the bail petitions of two others — his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan — on January 4.
Tyagi was arrested on December 9, following years of probe into the case registered in 2013. The case had rocked the country following charges of bribery to the tune of around Rs 450 crore paid by Finmeccanica, the Italian company that produces AgustaWestland choppers, through a maze of companies. Tyagi also became the first former military chief to be arrested.
The court felt that the CBI’s “apprehension” that he may tamper with evidence is “without any basis” and that he would influence witnesses who had been subordinate to him during his tenure “appears unfounded”.
The court noted that during the last three years and nine months after lodging the FIR, a lookout notice against Tyagi was withdrawn by the CBI, his accounts were defrozen after the investigation agency gave its “no objection” and he was allowed to travel.
Rejecting CBI’s arguments to deny bail, the accused has joined the investigation as and when called by the CBI and has also been questioned in custody. “No purpose will be served keeping the accused behind the bar,” the order said.
The CBI said, “Certain new dimensions have emerged,” and Tyagi’s release at this moment would “seriously hamper” further investigation and lead to “alerting other potential witnesses and also destruction of evidence”.
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