Manan Vatsyayana/Agence France-Presse â€" Getty Images Former Indian Air Force chief, Shashi Prakash Tyagi in New Delhi, in this March 31, 2007 photo.NEW DELHI â€" The former chief of the Indian Air Force, Shashi Prakash Tyagi, has been accused of cheating, conspiracy and bribery, in connection with a 2010 helicopter deal with AgustaWestland.
India’s chief investigator, the Central Bureau of Investigation, or C.B.I., on Wednesday filed a criminal case against Mr. Tyagi, 11 other people, and four companies, Dharini Mishra, a spokeswoman from the C.B.I., told India Ink.
Raids are being conducted at the homes and offices of people in severallocations including Delhi, Chandigarh and Gurgaon, she said.
Bribery allegations in the $750 million purchase of 12 helicopters by the Indian Air Force first surfaced last month after the arrest of Giuseppe Orsi, chief executive of Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland’s parent company. The arrest resulted from an investigation into violations of Italy’s corruption and bribery laws.
Mr. Tyagi, who served as the chief of the air force from 2004 until 2007, last month denied allegations that he received kickbacks in the deal and dismissed accusations that he had been bribed through his relatives to grant AgustaWestland the contract.
The helicopters were purchased by the Indian Air Force for V.I.P. duties, like! ferrying politicians. Only three have been delivered so far. The Indian Ministry of Defense said last month that in the wake of the allegations it had suspended the AugustaWestland deal.
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