CBI issues lookout notices for former IAF Chief Tyagi, others

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued lookout notices for former Indian Air Force (IAF) chief S P Tyagi, his three cousins and five others, named in its FIR in the alleged kickbacks received by them in Rs 3,600-crore VVIP chopper deal. It has been issued to prevent them from leaving the country from any airport. Tyagi, his cousins Sanjeev alias Julie, Rajeev alias Docsa and Sandeep, European middlemen Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschke were among the 13 named in the FIR.

CBI alleged during his tenure as Air Chief, the Air Force agreed "to reduce the service ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 to 4,500 meters as mandatory to which it was opposing vehemently on the grounds of security constraints and other related reasons," an agency source said.

It alleged that reduction of service ceiling - maximum height at which a helicopter can perform normally - allowed UK-based AgustaWestland to come into the fray as, otherwise, its helicopters were not even qualified for submission of bids.

Two new names, which were not part of the agency's preliminary inquiry, have also been included in the FIR. They include Satish Bagrodia, brother of former Union Minister Santosh Bagrodia, and Pratap Aggarwal, chairman and managing director of IDS Infotech respectively, it said.