VVIP chopper scam: ED summons former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief S P Tyagi in connection with its money laundering probe in the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal. They have asked him to appear before them on Monday.
Tyagi has been accused of influencing the the 3,600-crore deal for VVIP helicopters in favour of Italy's AgustaWestland, during his tenure as the IAF chief. However, he has repeatedly denied the allegations against him and earlier this week had reiterated his innocence.
"My first reaction is shock... How can anybody say this, on what basis?" Tyagi had said on Wednesday when asked whether he was involved in the VVIP chopper scam.
Read: Why no CBI raids against Cong leaders, Kejriwal asks Narendra Modi
"They have blamed me for corrupt practices in which I changed the height to assist AgustaWestland, although this decision was not against the public interest. But I was nevertheless being (called) corrupt," the former IAF chief said.
"It would appear that the part of the loot came to me. I am shocked," he said.
Referring to the case, he said, "This is not a new case. (It has been) going on for years. All the evidences were also presented to the court in Milan itself. The trial court in Milan gave judgement in which they said there was no case of corruption."
Read: AgustaWestland deal: Amit Shah targets Sonia Gandhi , asks to come clean
The Parliament today saw a high-voltage war of words on the VVIP chopper deal, with BJP and Congress sparring over the issue.
The parties launched a privilege war in Parliament as Amit Shah attacked Sonia Gandhi again asking her to explain a "number of relaxations" given to tainted chopper manufacturer AugustaWestland that he said "compromised" nation's interests.
Read: AgustaWestland deal: Why is your name on Italy list? BJP asks Sonia
Targeting Gandhi, he raised questions telling Congress that instead of adopting an attitude of "thief scolding the cop" should feel "ashamed" and "come clean".
Following up on his demand yesterday that Gandhi should name the bribe takers in the Rs.3,600 crore deal, Shah demanded that Gandhi should answer the questions to people of the nation regarding the deal.
The Congress hit back and dared the government to come out with the truth in the deal in the next two months instead of issuing threats and launching a "malicious" campaign.
"If government has the guts, it should come out with truth in the matter in the next two months when the Monsoon session of Parliament will commence", Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.
Subramanian Swamy, who has needled Congress on the issue for the past two days, tabled a breach of privilege notice in the Rajya Sabha against Azad for his statement that the then UPA government had blacklisted Finmeccanica, the parent company of AugustaWestland.
The Congress countered it by giving a similar notice against the defence ministry for making a statement on the deal outside the House when Parliament is in session.
