HC notifies lawyer on CBI plea against bail

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan on a CBI plea seeking cancellation of his bail in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter case.

Justice I.S. Mehta issued the notice to Khaitan and asked him to file his reply on the next date of hearing on January 18.

The CBI moved the plea challenging the January 4 order of a trial court that granted him bail.

The CBI also sought the cancellation of bail of former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi and his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi.

The former IAF chief was arrested on December 9 and got bail on December 26. Later, Khaitan and Sanjeev Tyagi were also released on bail.

The CBI has alleged that Tyagi and the other accused received bribes from AgustaWestland and helped the manufacturer win the $530-million (Rs 3,600 crore) contract to purchase the helicopters.

The 12 choppers were for the Communication Squadron of the IAF to ferry the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.

The agency said the company was favoured in lieu of illegal gratification accepted through different companies in the name of consultancy services.

A FIR was registered against the accused on March 12, 2013 on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

--IANS

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