AgustaWestland: HC stays order permitting IAF ex-chief to travel abroad

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday put on hold a trial court order allowing former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi, an accused in the AgustaWestland chopper deal case, to travel abroad.

Justice I.S. Mehta stayed the trial court's May 24 order that permitted Tyagi to travel to Indonesia, while hearing CBI's plea against the order.

Tyagi - the first chief of any wing of the armed forces to be arrested in the country- and two others were allegedly involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from Britain-based AgustaWestland.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that Tyagi, who headed the Indian Air Force from 2004 to 2007, and the other accused received kickbacks from AgustaWestland and helped the manufacturer win the $530-million contract.

The 12 choppers were for the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force for ferrying the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The CBI had earlier also moved the high court against trial court's order granting bail to Tyagi, his cousin and a lawyer in the case.

--IANS

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