CBI Examines Former Deputy IAF Chief Gujral in VVIP Chopper Deal

New Delhi: Former Deputy Air Marshal JS Gujral is being questioned by the CBI in connection with the Rs 3,600 VVIP AgustaWestland helicopter scam, sources said Saturday

Gujral was called for examination because he was reportedly in-charge of procurements when the chopper deal was being pursued.

Sources also told CNN-News18 that former Air Chief Marshall SP Tyagi was asked to appear before CBI on Monday for questioning in connection with its probe.

Both have been questioned at length in 2013 but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after April 7 order of an Italian court.

The Milan Court of Appeals - equivalent of Indian high courts - has given details of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter maker Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland to Indian officials through middlemen to clinch the deal.

The order mentions the name of Tyagi at several points. CBI which has received a copy of the Milan court order has now prepared a fresh set of questionnaire on the basis of the decision to put to Tyagi and Gujral.

Tyagi has denied allegations against him and has claimed that the decision to reduce the ceiling of chopper was taken by a group of senior officials including Gujral.

CBI had registered a case against Tyagi along with 13 others including his cousins and European middlemen in the case.

The allegation against the former Air chief was that he had reduced the altitude ceiling requirement from 6,000m to 4,500m (15,000ft) so that AgustaWestland was included in the bids.

However, this decision was taken in consultation with the officials of SPG and the Prime Minister's Office, including the then NSA MK Narayanan.

CBI has alleged reduction of the service ceiling — maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally - allowed the UK-based firm to get into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids.

The agency had already questioned several bureaucrats including former cabinet secretary B K Chaturvedi and Comptroller and Auditor General Shashikant Sharma who was the then Defence Secretary, the then SPG chief B V Wanchoo and Narayanan who were all allegedly party to the decision to reduce the ceiling in 2005.

(With inputs from PTI)