Ex-IAF chief denies wrongdoing, says chopper deal was a collective decision

New Delhi: Former IAF chief S P Tyagi on Wednesday denied allegations that he had influenced the 3,600-crore deal for VVIP helicopters in favour of Italy's AgustaWestland.

"My first reaction is shock... How can anybody say this, on what basis?" Tyagi replied when asked whether he was involved in the VVIP chopper scam.

"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."

"Same evidence was now produced in High Court. They seem to feel that it was done in corrupt practices. Why they have said it I am not in a position to comment," he said.

Asked pointedly whether he had received money for the Augusta deal, Tyagi said, "No, no, no, no. This question hurts me."

Asked whether his family members had received kickback, he said, "No, no no."

On the change of height parameter of the helicopters, Tyagi said this is in public domain why the height was changed and who changed it.

He said it involved two governments led by NDA and UPA and the National Security Advisors of both the governments were part of the meetings.

"They insisted on SPG and SPG got into it. They did not like the height, they did not like the single window...these are all in the public domain," he said.

Defending himself, he said, "Proforma clearance was given to me. The decision must have been taken by the government. The users were VVIP. IAF was not the user. SPG had to be consulted, therefore PMO stepped in. Otherwise PMO does not come into air force purchase. They took the decision and they asked the air force to change the requirement."

"SPG was not happy with the cabin height. SPG guards will not be able to stand with their guns to protect VVIP. These were issues and they discussed at length. Then decision was taken. IAF was asked to redo them. Now you are saying chief of AIF changed to assist Augusta. It was a collective decision," he asserted.

When told that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's name came up repeatedly for allegedly lobbying for the deal, Tyagi said, "All the documents available with Italian court are also available to investigating agencies. For the past three years, the investigating agencies have looked into all these documents. They have interviewed former Cabinet Secretary, former NSA, former DG of SPG."

We are still investigating with all the documents. Some of the documents have not been received and you have already decided who is corrupt... I find it very strange."