CBI to probe mystery family that got 5 per cent cut in Agusta deal

While the role of the Tyagi family in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal has been discussed bare bone, it is the involvement of several others that is likely to create a furore as the CBI files its first chargesheet in a Delhi trial court.

For instance, the role of a "family to whom the bribe/commission money was paid is being looked at", the CBI chargesheet, exclusively accessed by India Today says.

The CBI is probing an "agreement signed between AgustaWestland and middlemen Christian Michel and Guido Hashcke for 28 million euros (which is 5 per cent of the total contract value of 556 million euros) and this was to be "honoured in full". The contract is part of two agreements signed by the Italians and their middlemen. One is for 42 million euros and the other for 28 million euros.

But, it is the role of several other officials of the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Air Force that has not been reported so far is raising eyebrows. Apart from the Tyagi family, amongst those accused in the chargesheet includes Deputy Chief of Air Staff JS Gujral. He is considered one of those who actually nudged the contract in favour of AgustaWestland by eliminating competition.

In fact, Gujral is a classic case of fudging documents and flagging it at the same time. The operational requirement (OR) of the VVIP chopper required that it should be twin engined. Choppers with more than two or one engine were not eligible. When the file was put up to Gujral, he wrote something on the file and then covered it up with white fluid. His explanation was that the note had to be thoroughly scrutinized as per directions given to him and a fresh note had to be put up and therefore the white fluid. Central Forensic Science Laboratory deciphered the smeared note and discovered the instructions were anything but what Gujral had said.

Nevertheless, a fresh note was put up at Gujral's direction and his junior added one word -at least- before the word twin engined. By adding the word at least before twin engined, the helicopter AW101 was "fraudulently and dishonestly made eligible to participate in the bids with the approval of ACM (retd) SP Tyagi.

The chargesheet says the role of officials involved in the Field Evaluation Trial is also being probed.

In all, a 42 million euro bribe was paid in the VVIP chopper deal, cancelled by then Defence Minister AK Antony in the last days of the UPA.

Officials tailor-made the deal to suit the Italians even though the next bidder was 80 per cent cheaper. Had the deal come through, then each chopper, in the words of then Secretary Expenditure, would have been more expensive than even then a fighter aircraft.