Chopper: Haschke claims to have met former IAF chief 6-7 times

Alleged middleman in the chopper scam Guido Haschke has told an Italian court that he had met former IAF chief S P Tyagi six to seven times while recounting his role in the scandal, according to media reports.
In his five hours of hearing in a local court in Milan, he said there was a plan to divide a commission of 7 per cent of the worth of the deal with the three Tyagi brothers - cousins of then Air Chief S P Tyagi.
"Haschke then told the court that he had met Shashi Tyagi at least six or seven times," according to an Italian news website.

The alleged middleman also recounted the various meetings at multiple locations between him and his accomplices in the whole episode in Rome and Dubai.
In the hearing, the crucial middleman, who was recently arrested by Italian authorities after being extradited by Swiss authorities, said he had kept aside seven per cent of the deal as his share and for paying the three Tyagi cousins.
He said the 50 per cent of the total money was to be paid to the other middleman Christian Michel and the money to be paid was to be routed through the engineering services contract as part of the deal.

The Defence Ministry is expected to scrap the deal for the 12 VVIP choppers after it has found that the Anglo-Italian firm violated the pre-contract integrity pact with India.
AgustaWestland and the Tyagi brothers have denied any wrongdoing on their behalf in the deal worth Rs 3,600 crore.
The Italian court will hold its next hearing on December 6 where mopre light is expected to be thrown on the role of the middlemen in the deal.