AgustaWestland Chopper Scam: ED Files Supplementary Chargesheet Against Former IAF Chief SP Tyagi and Six Others

New Delhi, July 18: The Enforcement Directorate has filed a supplementary chargesheet against  the former Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief SP Tyagi in the AgustaWestland Chopper scam . Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) Tyagi’s cousins, lawyer Gautam Khaitan, two Italian middlemen, Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschke and Finmeccanica are also named in the chargesheet. Finmeccanica is the parent company of AgustaWestland. According to reports, middleman Christian Michel has been arrested from Dubai. Michel allegedly acted as a middlemen in the scam.

The chargesheet which has been filed before special judge Arvind Kumar will be taken for consideration on 20 July. Special public prosecutor NK Matta filed the chargesheet. The money was allegedly laundered through multiple foreign companies. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sent a fresh request to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to extradite Gerosa in the scam.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF The deal was scrapped over an alleged breach of contractual obligations. It was also alleged that kickbacks of Rs 423 crore were paid to secure the deal.

As per reports, Gerosa along with Guido Haschke and Christian Michel managed to contact IAF officials so that the specifications of helicopters can be altered. In 2005, the service ceiling requirement of helicopters was reduced from 6,000 m to 4,500 m. After the alteration, AgustaWestland became eligible to supply a dozen helicopters for VVIP flying duties.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 18, 2018 05:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).