The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of former IAF chief SP Tyagi on CBI’s plea challenging his bail in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case contending that he could “hamper” its probe and “alert” other accused if he remained out of custody.

While Justice Vipin Sanghi issued notice to Tyagi and listed the matter for hearing on January 3, separately, Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand extended the judicial custody of other two accused, Sanjeev Tyagi alias Julie and lawyer Gautam Khaitan, till January 13.  The High Court agreed to give an early hearing to CBI’s plea challenging the bail granted to the former Chief of Air Staff (COAS) after the agency said the bail pleas of the other two to be heard by the trial court on January 4.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand extended their 14- day custody which expired on Friday, till January 13, after the CBI moved an application for the same in the case relating to procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from UK-based firm during the UPA-2 regime.

A court on December 17 had sent both the accused to two weeks in Tihar Jail along with Tyagi, the former Air Chief, after the probe agency said they were not required for custodial interrogation.

While Tyagi was granted bail on December 26, the bail pleas of the other two will be heard on January 4.

Sanjeev and Gautam earlier spent a week in CBI custody after the agency had said it was a “very serious” case requiring interrogation to unearth larger conspiracy as “interest of the nation was compromised”.

The agency had then submitted in the court, “It is a very high-profile case and we need proper material. One part of the crime was committed in India while various other angles are in foreign land.”

CBI had alleged that Tyagi had “abused his official position”. When he was the air chief, he had made huge investments in land and other properties and not disclosed the source of his income.