AgustaWestland Case: Delhi Spl Court Ordered Summons Against Ex-Def Sec & Air Force Officials
New Delhi, April, 11: A Delhi Special court after taking cognizance of a charge sheet passed an order to issuance of summons against Former Defence Secretary and others Indian Air Force officials in connection of Agusta Westland VVIP chopper case. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took the case in 2016 and after investigation filed the first chargesheet against Former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi and 11 others on September 1, 2017 before the special court of CBI.
It is alleged that Rs 3,600-crore scam case was registered on the basis of 2010 purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from Italy-based chopper manufacturer AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Defence Manufacturing company. Investigation Agency alleged that Former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi had recommended a relaxation in some parameters to benefit the helicopter manufacturer and allegedly he did so at the behest of top officials of AgustaWestland and Finmeccanica. After Investigation CBI has alleged that three middlemen Christian Michel, Guido Haschke and Carlos Gerosa, paid bribes to Tyagi and his relatives and several parameters such as the height of the cabin of the helicopter and the maximum altitude that it could reach were tweaked to benefit AgustaWestland.
After investigation CBI had filed the supplementary chargesheet on March 16 against Former Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and others. CBI has also charged four former Indian Airforce Official Air Vice Marshal Jasbir Singh Panesar, Deputy Chief Test Pilot SA Kunte, Wing Commander Thomas Mathew and Group Captain N Santosh. CBI Special Judge Arvind Kumar after filing the supplementary chargesheet and hearing the Counsel for CBI passed an order to issuance of summons against Former Defence Secretary and others Indian Air Force officials to appear before the court and adjourned the matter for April 28 for further hearing in the case. UNI
