The Patiala House Court on Wednesday postponed the bail plea hearing of former IAF chief SP Tyagi, who was arrested by the CBI in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case, to 23 December.
Tyagi, who was arrested on 9 December, was brought to the court on Wednesday for his bail plea hearing. Tyagi, along with his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie and Delhi-based advocate Gautam Khaitan, had been remanded by the court to judicial custody till 30 December on Saturday.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who has earlier represented the government in several crucial case, was present to argue against Tyagi’s bail plea on Wednesday.
Mehta pushed the court for the hearing to be postponed to 23 December citing that though he “could find a serious case emerging, but to address the court at a pre-chargesheet phase, I cannot share details with everyone but only with the court”.
He also stated that there are voluminous records pertaining to the case which he needs to scrutinise.
Mehta told the court that the CBI has not been “haphazard in making the arrests”.
The court later deferred the hearing to 23 December.
“Tyagi Handed Over All Details Sought By ED, CBI”
Tyagi’s counsel said the CBI had alleged that he received kickbacks from the alleged middlemen in the AgustaWestland case – Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.
She responded that the CBI justified the claim on the basis of an Italian appeals court judgement, which was struck down recently by the supreme court of Italy.
While presenting evidence to show that Tyagi had been cooperating in the probe, Tyagi’s counsel told the court that the all details sought by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI have been handed over by her client.
“It is clear that the CBI has never alleged non-cooperation by my client. Neither did the CBI believe then nor does it believe now that my client is likely to abscond from the hands of justice,” Tyagi’s counsel said.
Tyagi May Tamper With Evidence?
She further stated that the Ministry of Defence had said the decision to purchase 12 VVIP choppers was taken at a meeting called by the then civilian government in 2003, whereas Tyagi was appointed as the Chief of Air Staff in 2004. Even the technical trials of the choppers were conducted after Tyagi's retirement, the counsel stated.
She further argued that the investigative agency believes that Tyagi may tamper with evidence if not in custody but “he’s travelled abroad and informed the CBI before, which never raised any issues”.
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