We must give SP Tyagi his due till charges are proved, says Air Force chief Arup Raha

Indian Air Force chief Arup Raha has again defended his predecessor SP Tyagi who was arrested by the CBI in the AgustaWestland defence scam but released by courts on Monday.

Talking to mediapersons on Wednesday, the Air Chief Marshal said, "Till charges are proved we must give him (Tyagi) his due. Former Air Force chief is like an extended family member and we should stand by them."

The Air Force chief said he believed that Tyagi was taken into custody in the AW101 case where investigation agencies found evidence against him. "We believe that law of the land should be followed. Once the probe is complete we will abide by whatever the court decides," he said.

However, Air Chief Marshal Raha said, if the charges are proved then the force would have no sympathies for Tyagi.

RAHA CALLS SP TYAGI A SOUND PROFESSIONAL

A day after Tyagi was released from jail on bail, Raha described him a "sound professional" and said he should not have been treated like a "common criminal".

According to the Air force chief, Pathankot was the first setback. However, he said the Air Force has learnt lessons and is better prepared now. The second setback was missing of the AN32aircraft. "Despite efforts we could not trace it. We are helping the families of the missing people. It is one of worst memories in my career," he said.

But Raha expressed satisfaction over the Force's performance in traditional fields. "We have done reasonably well in looking after the sub conventional threat like terrorism and other conventional threats," he said.

He said the Force's main focus is on capability building and operational preparedness. "We have been able to sign various cases in the first two-and-a-half years, including Rafale which will be built in India. It will become operational within next three years to five-and-a-half years," he said.