Former IAF chief SP Tyagi Was Involved in VVIP Chopper Deal: Italian Court

[harsh]

New Delhi: An Italian court has accused former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi of involvement in the Augusta Westland VVIP chopper deal , saying there was "reasonable belief that corruption took place in the case, the Economic Times reports.

Tyagi was IAF chief in 2005-07, when Rs 3,565-crore VVIP chopper deal was being processed by air headquarters.

In its 225-page judgement page, the Milan court of Appeals said payments in cash as well as through wire transfers were made to the Tyagi family — three of the former air chief 's cousins — and a part of them were destined for the officer himself.

The court said it was "validly proven" that a part of $10-15 million in illicit funds made their way to Indian officials.

The Italian court has also observed that the erstwhile UPA government held back key information and showed substantial disregard in arriving at the complete truth behind Rs 3,565-crore deal VVIP chopper scandal.

Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica's former chief Giuseppe Orsi has already been sentenced by the Milan appeals court to 4.5 years in jail for false accounting and corruption over the sale of 12 VVIP choppers to India for Rs 3,600 crore.

In the ruling, which overtured a previous court order of 2014, Bruno Spagnolini, the former CEO of Finmeccanica's helicopter subsidiary AgustaWestland, was also handed a four- year prison term by the court yesterday.

The Court had ruled that the Rs 3,565-crore Agusta-Westland contract involved payoffs to Indian officials.

The court found both guilty of corruption in relation to the sale of 12 helicopters to the Indian government and sentenced Orsi to a jail term of four and a half years.

The supply of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland came under the scanner after Italian authorities alleged that bribe was paid by the company to clinch the deal.

The Italian prosecutor who carried out the preliminary inquiry alleged that the chief executive officer (CEO) of Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland, had allegedly used the services of middlemen to bribe Indian officials.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...volved-italian-court/articleshow/51985855.cms



What should we do to this corrupt airforce chief?????
How can we trust airforce when its chief is involved in corruption????

 

[Kshatriya87]

What should we do to this corrupt airforce chief?????
How can we trust airforce when its chief is involved in corruption????

Make an example out of them. Throw these air chiefs and politicians behind bars. Don't give them any special cells or treatments in prison. Only when we put the elite in prison, can we set an example and create fear into the minds and hearts of others so that noone repeats it.

 

[Chinmoy]

The Italian court has also observed that the erstwhile UPA government held back key information and showed substantial disregard in arriving at the complete truth behind Rs 3,565-crore deal VVIP chopper scandal.

Slap PAPPU, SONIA MAMA & Co's with this...........

 

[Mikesingh]

5 big-dick Indian politicians have been named too by the Italian authorities. We need to know who these assholes are, pronto. I think all of them are from the CongrASS party.
The suspense is killing me!

 

[Bahamut]

Let ask the Italian for more info and start a case against him .................................

 

[garg_bharat]

This is unlikely to be one off case.

I think many overseas purchases have similar story.

Problem is overseas payments are very difficult to track as these completely circumvent India.

IAF's love of European maal has its reasons.

 

[harsh]

In this case sonia ghandi (signora ghandi) and oscar farnandes (with 5 politicians and some beurocrats and iaf chief and his cousins) is named in the italian court judgement.

 

[harsh]

Sonia Gandhi was 'driving force' behind VVIP chopper deal: Italy court

NEW DELHI: BJP on Tuesday planned to target Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders on the issue of bribes in the AugustaWestland chopper deal during the UPA regime in a bid to corner the main opposition party, which has been paralysing the Rajya Sabha on the Uttarakhand affair.
The top brass of the BJP including its president Amit Shah and parliamentary leaders including finance minister Arun Jaitley met here to chalk out a strategy following media reports that an Italian court, which has convicted AugustaWestland chief Giuseppe Orsi, has reportedly described how the firm paid bribes to top Congress leaders to bag the Rs 3,600 crore deal.
The issue also figured in the BJP parliamentary party where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present. Congress would also be targeted on the controversial Aircel Maxis deal and the affidavits in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case

According to media reports, the Italian court judgement states how the firm lobbied with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her close aides besides the then NSA M K Narayanan and the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Gandhi was described as the "driving force" by the judge behind the deal.
Subramanian Swamy, who took oath as the newly-nominated member of Rajya Sabha on Tuesday and the bete noire of Congress's first family, will rake up the chopper deal issue in the Rajya Sabha for which notice has been given. Meenakshi Lekhi is expected to do the job in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
A top BJP leader said it is significant that for the first time the bribe-giver has been convicted but still people do not know who the bribe-taker is. The Aircel Maxis issue is likely to be raked up by Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha while in the upper house it may be raised by Bhupender Yadav.
Similarly, the Ishrat Jahan case pot will be stirred by Kirit Somayya in the Lok Sabha.
To specific questions whether Sonia Gandhi's name would be taken up in connection with the chopper scam, a top leader refused to give a direct reply but party leaders indicated she would be targeted.
For the record, Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was fielded by the BJP to attack Congress on the chopper deal. He asked the defence minister in the Manmohan Singh government A K Antony to name the party leaders allegedly involved in the scandal.
"Bribe-givers have been convicted. Why are bribe-takers silent? Antony should answer if leaders of Congress are involved in it or not. Are they from your party or not? Please come clean," he told a press conference.
The Congress hit back and said rejected any allegations against Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh saying "we reject it with the contempt they deserve".
"No one should be making loose comments about the Congress president and former PM Manmohan Singh," party deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said.
He said the BJP has been making irresponsible statements and wild allegations and the Congress was not going to accept this.
Sharma also claimed that a businessman "close to" Modi has entered into an MoU with AugustaWestland. But he refused to name him.
He also questioned the government why it removed AugustaWestland from the blacklist in which the UPA government had put it in.
On his part, Antony asked the Modi government to fast-track the probe into the chopper scam and find out the truth as the UPA government had cancelled the contract and ordered a CBI investigation into it.
"When the primary allegation came out in the media, we immediately ordered a CBI inquiry. We cancelled the contract and fought the case in the Milan court. We won the case and got back all the money we paid in advance by bank guarantee," he told reporters.

http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Son...per-deal-Italy-court/articleshow/51998314.cms

 

[harsh]

VVIP chopper deal: Ex IAF chief SP Tyagi had admitted to meeting middleman at Delhi farmhouse

NEW DELHI: Former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi, accused of swinging the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal in favour of Anglo-Italian firm AgustaWestland, had admitted during his interrogation by the CBI in 2013 that he had met middleman Guido Ralph Haschke at a farm house party in Delhi.
While denying having taken any bribe, Tyagi had told CBI sleuths that he had also met Haschke at least 5-6 more times later. Sources said that the former IAF chief's cousins - Julie, Docsa and Sanjeev Tyagi - who are also named in the case, were present at these meetings. One or two meetings with Haschke had "formally taken place" with SP Tyagi, said a senior CBI official.
CBI sources said details of the contract, among other aspects of the deal, were discussed at these meetings. Haschke is alleged to have passed on 20 million euros as bribe for the contract to S P Tyagi's cousins. The same details have been confirmed in the probe of the Enforcement Directorate, which questioned the Tyagi cousins at length in 2014.

Asked about the party, a senior official said, "We don't know whose party it was but Haschke was present and met SP Tyagi. There were reports that the farmhouse belonged to his cousins but we are yet to confirm that."
Officials in CBI and ED said SP Tyagi was not supposed to meet middlemen for a defence contract but "he held 6-7 meetings for which we have strong evidence".
The Italian court judgement also talks about Haschke having met the Tyagis. When a CBI team went to Italy in 2013, Haschke confirmed to Indian officials about the meetings. CBI and ED both have also established the "money trail" in India which was sent through a web of companies and cash as well. Sources said CBI has probed the assets and investments of SP Tyagi and his cousins as part of the probe and financial details may figure in its final report.
TOI first reported on April 21 that CBI had evidence of 'corruption' charges in AgustaWestland deal on part of Indian officials on the basis of documents shared by Italy.
CBI has booked 13 people, including S P Tyagi and Satish Bagrodia (brother of former minister Santosh Bagrodia), in an FIR registered earlier this week. It alleged that during the tenure of Tyagi and "with his approval", the IAF "conceded to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 meters to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons earlier".

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-at-Delhi-farmhouse/articleshow/52017394.cms?
[MOD Edit: Link added.]

 

[garg_bharat]

Interesting development though one should not assume it is good.

Scorpene is still without its Italy made torpedoes.

The sudden judicial activity in Italy may be intentional to further delay or stop some procurement.

All European deals are dangerous. India will do well to stay clear of European suppliers.

For now the impact on Indian projects will be significant.

 

[harsh]

Interesting development though one should not assume it is good.

Scorpene is still without its Italy made torpedoes.

The sudden judicial activity in Italy may be intentional to further delay or stop some procurement.

All European deals are dangerous. India will do well to stay clear of European suppliers.

For now the impact on Indian projects will be significant.

No company is blacklisted by government. With new defence policy we will fine for wrong doing not blacklist them.
Agusta Westland is part of make in india. India can buy torpedoes if we want. But priority is given to make in india.

 

[smestarz]

Just not surprised to find how compromised our Defence chiefs are ,,,
Tyagi, it means the one who sacrifices,,, kya tyaag kiya hai desh ke liye..
NAK Browne did follow the same footsteps, and we got PILATUS, Luckily for him even though Rafale deal was fixed the MMRCA is cancelled, and now whatever is being done on that on the present govt,
I think even Mirage 2000 upgrade deal will also take out some skeletons out of the closet..

 

[harsh]

Swamy warned against 'unnecessarily provoking' opposition MPs

NEW DELHI: Subramanian Swamy, who triggered huge protests from Congress on Thursday over his attempts to drag Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland helicopter row, again made some controversial remarks in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, which the Chair immediately expunged and warned him of action for "unnecessarily provoking" members on the other side.
Expunging Swamy's reference to the Constitution of another country that triggered vociferous protests from Congress members, deputy chairman PJ Kurien also ordered media not to report the remarks.
Trouble broke out after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Swamy got up to clarify saying he had no objection to minority education institutions, but the Constitution prohibits the state from financing them.
He was countered on this by the opposition to which he responded by dragging the name of another country, a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well.
Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country but that did not satisfy the Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Swamy.
The BJP MP, who took oath only on Monday, insisted that since his name has been taken by another member, he has a right to reply and again went on to refer to the country, drawing sharp rebuke from the Chair.
"I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you... you are provoking," Kurien said.
Observing that what Swamy said would not go on record, he said "what has been expunged should not be reported by media."
Congress members sought action against Swamy with Jairam Ramesh saying he was "needling and provoking" by bringing in reference to another country. "This is deliberate."
With Congress members continuing to protest, Kurien asked them to return to their seats and said it was a deliberate attempt to subvert the Zero Hour.
Asked by the chair what the problem was when the remarks have been expunged, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "The problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side."
He said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair.
Azad said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature.

Now taking bribes is allowed in this country but taking names of those who did corruption is not allowed.

 

[smestarz]

Swami is a smart and dangerous cookie, His remarks have been expunged, but Rajya Sabha is shown LIVE on TV and people see and know whats happening LIVE, and do not rely on new from channels.
Congress has already lost its credibility. Congress is trying to show that the "show cause" notice that they gave to Finnmecanica as being black listed. This was clarified by BJP ministers that Finnmecanica was never banned or black listed by UPA they were simply sent a show cause notice as to why they should not be black listed by India.

In 365 days Swami will be able to comment so many times that it will be enough to open the congress armour protecting the Gandhis like Butter using a hot knife. And Congress knows this very well.
Swami is a lawyer, he does not use the "street language"
Was it not the same UPA govt which did in a way quote the lower Italian court first that there was no scam in VVIP chopper scam? I specifically remember the same day ex Air Chief Tyagi being on TV (guess NDTv) and saying that his stand that he is innocent and there was nothing wrong in VVIP chopper deal stood vindicated. I do not see the Air chief talking about the findings and claims of the people now arrested in Italy for that matter.
How is that. a deal between Italian company and India, which has a scam and which is proven beyond doubt, and all the accused named. not a scam in India? Have we legalised corruption by Gandhis?

Swamy warned against 'unnecessarily provoking' opposition MPs

NEW DELHI: Subramanian Swamy, who triggered huge protests from Congress on Thursday over his attempts to drag Sonia Gandhi in the AgustaWestland helicopter row, again made some controversial remarks in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, which the Chair immediately expunged and warned him of action for "unnecessarily provoking" members on the other side.
Expunging Swamy's reference to the Constitution of another country that triggered vociferous protests from Congress members, deputy chairman PJ Kurien also ordered media not to report the remarks.
Trouble broke out after Chaudhary Munavver Saleem (SP) in a Zero Hour referred to Swamy being part of the movement in 1970s to protect the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Swamy got up to clarify saying he had no objection to minority education institutions, but the Constitution prohibits the state from financing them.
He was countered on this by the opposition to which he responded by dragging the name of another country, a reference that led to agitated Congress members rushing into the Well.
Kurien said he was expunging the reference to the Constitution of another country but that did not satisfy the Congress members who continued to shout slogans against Swamy.
The BJP MP, who took oath only on Monday, insisted that since his name has been taken by another member, he has a right to reply and again went on to refer to the country, drawing sharp rebuke from the Chair.
"I will take action against you. Subramanian Swamy you are unnecessarily provoking. I will have to take action against you... you are provoking," Kurien said.
Observing that what Swamy said would not go on record, he said "what has been expunged should not be reported by media."
Congress members sought action against Swamy with Jairam Ramesh saying he was "needling and provoking" by bringing in reference to another country. "This is deliberate."
With Congress members continuing to protest, Kurien asked them to return to their seats and said it was a deliberate attempt to subvert the Zero Hour.
Asked by the chair what the problem was when the remarks have been expunged, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "The problem is the new gift of BJP. Problem is not on this side."
He said Swamy is just two days old in the House and his remarks have already been expunged twice. "There are 365 days in a year, how many times are you going to expunge his words," he asked the Chair.
Azad said Swamy does not know the difference between street language and parliamentary words. "He does not allow his hair to grey so he can learn and mature.

Now taking bribes is allowed in this country but taking names of those who did corruption is not allowed.

 

[harsh]

Swami is a smart and dangerous cookie, His remarks have been expunged, but Rajya Sabha is shown LIVE on TV and people see and know whats happening LIVE, and do not rely on new from channels.
Congress has already lost its credibility. Congress is trying to show that the "show cause" notice that they gave to Finnmecanica as being black listed. This was clarified by BJP ministers that Finnmecanica was never banned or black listed by UPA they were simply sent a show cause notice as to why they should not be black listed by India.

In 365 days Swami will be able to comment so many times that it will be enough to open the congress armour protecting the Gandhis like Butter using a hot knife. And Congress knows this very well.
Swami is a lawyer, he does not use the "street language"
Was it not the same UPA govt which did in a way quote the lower Italian court first that there was no scam in VVIP chopper scam? I specifically remember the same day ex Air Chief Tyagi being on TV (guess NDTv) and saying that his stand that he is innocent and there was nothing wrong in VVIP chopper deal stood vindicated. I do not see the Air chief talking about the findings and claims of the people now arrested in Italy for that matter.
How is that. a deal between Italian company and India, which has a scam and which is proven beyond doubt, and all the accused named. not a scam in India? Have we legalised corruption by Gandhis?

Man I saw this moron S P Taygi on aaj tak. He was defending UPA government for not giving papers to Italian court. When anchor asked him why are you defending congress then he realised his mistake and just repeated 10 an 15 time that he is innocent and he is not defending UPA government

 

[harsh]

Why S P TYAGI'S cousin's name are like cristians like Julie and docsa??????

 

[smestarz]

Why S P TYAGI'S cousin's name are like cristians like Julie and docsa??????

Should ask the guys who named them

 

[harsh]

As IAF chief, S P Tyagi met Agusta executives with his cousins: Italian Court

CONTRARY to his claim that his cousins acted alone in the AgustaWestland (AW) deal without his knowledge, the verdict of the Milan Appellate Court says that former IAF chief S P Tyagi met several AW officials in the presence of his cousins when he was the chief. And that even before he became chief, Tyagi was aware of the change in specifications of the helicopter — lowering of height ceiling — and he is said to have passed on that knowledge through his cousins and via middlemen to AW officials.

In fact, the court order also says that the Tyagi brothers, Sanjeev Kumar (Juli), Docsa and Sandeep, cousins of S P Tyagi, knew as early as November 2003 — before S P Tyagi became chief on December 31, 2004 — that the Defence Ministry would lower the altitude requirements for the helicopters it was planning to purchase for VVIPs.

They shared this information with middleman Guido Haschke, the court says, who communicated it to AW officials, particularly Guiseppe Orsi, the former CEO of parent company Finmeccanica. “I got the preliminary information from the Tyagi family that the flying ceiling for the helicopter would be lowered; that in the tender offer, the altitude ceiling would be reduced,” Haschke is quoted as saying on Page 209 of the Milan Appellate Court’s April 7 judgment.

The court held Orsi and Bruno Spagnolini, former AW CEO, guilty of fraud and international corruption, sentencing them to four and a half and four years of prison respectively along with heavy fines. It emerges, from court records, that S P Tyagi met with AW executives in Delhi between January 22-25, 2006, while he was still Air Chief. Again, in January 2007, he met Bruno Spagnolini, Haschke and his associate middleman Carlo Gerosa, both times in the company of his cousins. Tyagi was IAF chief until March 31, 2007.

At the end of 2004, before Tyagi assumed office, Juli Tyagi, according to the court order, made a “proposal” to Haschke. Of information and help against a fee. The sum agreed, as per the order, was 10.5 million Euros. Of which, Haschke claims, 3 million Euros was paid. The Tyagi brothers received 100,000 Euros in cash “immediately”.

 

[Blackwater]

Tayagi ki phaati pari ha, useless fellow . No balls. If he want to corruption then he should have left india and settle in UK just like Malaya and lalit modi and live like King [emoji1][emoji1][emoji1][emoji1]

 

[harsh]

Chopper scam: CBI, ED summon ex-Air chief SP Tyagi

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday summoned ex-Air Force chief SP Tyagi in connection with money-laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland chopper deal.
The Times of India had reported that the ED is all set to question Tyagi in connection with the deal.
The CBI has also summoned Tyagi in connection with its probe in the VVIP choppers deal on Monday.

This is the first time that the ex-Chief Of Staff of the Indian Air Force has been summoned by the central agency.
The Enforcement Directorate claims to have identified politicians, bureaucrats, IAF officers and other beneficiaries of the kickbacks in 'Choppergate'.
The ED's probe reports, exclusively accessed by TOI, running into hundreds of pages, have mentioned the details of how the money reached the three cousins of the IAF ex-chief -Sandeep, Rajeev and Sanjeev.
Official sources said the summons to Tyagi have been issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
While the exact date when Tyagi is supposed to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here has been kept under wraps, it is understood he has been asked to come "in person" in the next week.
CBI has questioned Tyagi earlier in the same case and he had then denied any wrongdoing.
Sources indicated Tyagi's questioning is necessary in the light of a recent judgement of a Milan (Italy) court which had sentenced Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica's former chief Giuseppe Orsi and the former CEO of the firm Bruno Spagnolini on corruption charges in the sale of a dozen AgustaWestland helicopters to India for VVIP purposes.
The allegation against the former Air chief is that he allegedly reduced the height of the VVIP helicopters so that AgustaWestland could be included in the bids.
He took over as the Indian Air Force chief on December 31, 2005 and retired from service in 2007.
ED had registered a PMLA case in this regard in 2014 and named 21 people including Tyagi in its money laundering FIR.
It had also arrested Delhi-based businessman Gautam Khaitan and had also filed a charge sheet last year.
ED is probing the case in which 70 million Euros (about Rs 360 crore) were allegedly paid as kickbacks.
The agency had earlier submitted that Khaitan was on the board of Chandigarh-based company Aeromatrix which was allegedly a front firm for the financial dealings in the chopper deal.
On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW101 VVIP choppers to the Indian Air Force (IAF) over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.
In view of the corruption charges, India has also barred Finmeccanica and its group companies from participating in any new programme of the defence ministry.
The central agency has also issued Letters Rogatory (judicial requests) to ten countries in this case.