CBI enjoys functional autonomy: Narayanasamy

CBI enjoys "functional autonomy" for investigation of cases and it derives power from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy informed Rajya Sabha today.

"CBI enjoys functional autonomy for the investigation of cases. It derives its autonomy and power from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946," the Minister said in a written reply on a question about measures government would take for fair investigation into VVIP helicopter deal.

"It functions within the parameters of law and conducts investigation/inquiries as per provisions of Criminal Procedure Code 1973/CBI manual," he said.

Six cases were referred to CBI for investigation in foreign countries, Narayanasamy said.

On the question related to VVIP helicopter deal, the Minister said, "A case PE2172013A002 was registered in CBI on sources information against Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) S P Tyagi, the then Chief of Air Staff and 14 others. On conclusion of this PR, a Regular Case number 2172013A003 has been registered on March 13, 2013."

Replying to question whether record of CBI in probing of cases in foreign countries has been very bleak, he said, "No Sir. CBI has been conducting its investigation in a professional and impartial manner.

"However, such investigation depends upon several factors, including cooperation extended by the country concerned, language used in the country concerned etc."

The Minister said, "PE2172013A002 was registered in CBI on

source information...On the allegation that in the procurement process of 12 AW 101 VVIP/VIP Helicopters, some middlemen had influenced the deal in favour of M/s AgustaWestland."

"It was also alleged that Mr Haschke and Mr Gerosa from their share of commission paid huge sums of money to several Indian nationals including the Tyagi brothers and Air Chief Marshal (Retd) SP Tyagi, the then Chief of Air Staff through Tunisia and Mauritius route in the garb of engineering contracts with two India based companies M/s IDS Infotech Ltd and M/s Aeromatrix," he said.

The Minister said Mr Haschke and Mr Gerosa are directors in M/s Aeromatrix also, in which one Praveen Bakshi works as Chief Executive Officer and he allegedly has an important role in channelising money for illegal purposes.

He said on the conclusion of the PE, a Regular Case number 2172013A003 has been registered on March 13, 2013 under section 120-B read with 420 IPC and section seven, eight, nine, 12 and 13(2) read with section 13(1)(d) of PC Act 1988.

The Minister said case has been registered against Air Chief Marshal (Retd) S P Tyagi, the then Chief of Air Staff, Sanjeev Tyagi alias Juli Tyagi, Rajiv Tyagi alias Docsa, Sandeep Tyagi, Gautam Khaitan, Praveen Bakshi, Satish Bagrodia, Chairman of IDS Infotech, Pratap K Aggarwal, Managing Director IDS Infotech, Giuseppe Orsi, CEO and Chairman of Finmeccanica, Bruno Spagnolini, CEO AgustaWestland (UK), Guido Ralph Haschke, share holder of GADIT and Gordian Services Sarl and Director Aeromatrix, Carlo Valentino Gerosa, Director in Aeromatrix and partner with Haschke, Christian Michel, owner Global Info Solutions, consultant AgustaWestland Spa and English middleman.

He said companies Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland, IDS Tunisia, Infotech Design System (IDS) Mauritius, IDS Infotech Chandigarh and Aeromatrix have also been named in the FIR.

"The case is under investigation," he said.