Investigations into the VVIP chopper scam picked up pace on Saturday as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) examined former deputy chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) JS Gujral, who was among senior officials who were part of the meeting which decided to alter the required specifications to favour AgustaWestland was taken in 2005.
The CBI will question former IAF chief SP Tyagi on Monday. Both Gujral, against whom the agency has so far not levelled any allegation, and Tyagi were grill in 2013 also. Tyagi’s cousins will also be questioned.
The BJP claimed that it was Congress president Sonia Gandhi who was behind relaxations given to AgustaWestland over “field trials” despite then Defence Minister AK Antony’s objections.
The Congress rubbished BJP chief Amit Shah’s charges and posed counter-questions to him as to why permission was granted to AgustaWestland to participate in “Make in India” programme and Aero India exhibition besides for a sub-contract in a Defence project.
The CBI has so far examined more than 100 people in connection with its probe, including former National Security Adviser (NSA) MK Narayanan and former SPG chief BV Wanchoo.
CBI sources said the fresh round of questioning of the accused has been undertaken in view of the recent Milan court order. The agency has received the copy of the court order in an informal manner and has sought a certified copy of the court judgment through diplomatic channels.
The allegation against Tyagi is that he had reduced the flying ceiling of the helicopter from altitude ceiling requirement of 6,000 m to 4,500 m (15,000 ft) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids. However, this decision was taken allegedly in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Minister’s Office, including MK Narayanan.
The BJP kept up the heat on Sonia with its spokesperson GVl Narsimha Rao telling the media, “Antony had questioned the proposal to have the field trial abroad. This is what the CAG report also cites. This is what Antony had stated: ‘What is the guarantee that credibility of this trial will remain above board if they do not take place in this country.’ He had recorded on file that this cannot be allowed. The Defence Minister wants Request for Proposals conditions to be imposed. Who in the UPA Government or who in the Congress other than Sonia Gandhi and her adviser has the authority to override Antony, his objections. Only one who could tell him to keep quiet, who could silence him was Sonia Gandhi.”
There is so much circumstantial evidence to show that the role of Congress bigwigs was there in the approval of contract and its operationalisation, Rao said.
The Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala retaliated by taking on the BJP president saying, “Will Shah answer as to why the same ‘fraud company’ was given permission to participate in Defence contract as a ‘sub-contractor’ as also ‘supplier to a contracting party’ with Government of India by order dated 22.08.2014 of Ministry of Defence,” said.