AgustaWestland case: Former IAF chief SP Tyagi granted bail, asked not to leave country

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Dec 26, 2016: A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi arrested in AgustaWestland chopper deal case.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge Arvind Kumar allowed Tyagi`s bail application and asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and surety of like amount.

The court has further asked 72-year-old Tyagi not to leave the country.

The court will pronounce an order on the bail applications of other accused - Sanjeev Tyagi and a Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan - on January 04.

The CBI had opposed the bail plea of the accused, saying they are persons of high ranking and if released on bail, they "may influence witnesses, destroy evidences, and hamper the ongoing probe which is at a very crucial stage".

Tyagi -- the first chief of any wing of the armed forces to be arrested in the country -- and the others were allegedly involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from Britain-based AgustaWestland.

Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and Gautam Khaitan were arrested on December 9 by the CBI.