Former air chief marshal S.P. Tyagi, caught amidst allegations of receiving kickbacks to facilitate the VVIP AgustaWestland Chopper deal spoke to Outlook’s Toral Varia Deshpande.
What do you have to say to the allegations levelled against you in the 64-page report prepared by an Italian investigating agency?
Everything is a matter of record in the air HQs and, I can say with some authority that absolutely no changes were suggested by the iaf in general or by me in particular during the time when I was the chief (January 1, 2005, to March 1, 2007). The Italians have alleged that I received kickbacks via my cousins to change the specifications to facilitate AgustaWestland. But please understand, the air HQ has no authority to change the requirements. Such changes can be made only by the ministry of defence. In fact, the Raksha Mantri is the final authority.
So what’s your version of the...
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