First Ever Graft Charge On An IAF Chief

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation today named former Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal “Bundle” Tyagi in a preliminary information report in the AgustaWestland AW101 VVIP helicopter kickbacks case, making him the first Indian Air Force chief ever to be formally charged with corruption in a criminal case (former Navy chief Admiral Sushil Kumar was booked in the Barak missile cas). His residence on the outskirts of New Delhi was also one of 14 locations raided by the CBI today. Tyagi, who denied the allegations when they were first reported last month, made no comment today on the CBI’s report. A black day for the Indian Air Force.

18 thoughts on “First Ever Graft Charge On An IAF Chief”

  1. Anyone who is familiar with the DPP would know it better that a service chief has no role whatsoever in either formulating/approving the SQR or for that matter in the entire procurement process. therefore, i fail to understand as to how ACM tyagi could be blamed. what about the main people in the MoD who are directly involved in the procurement process?

  2. A Black day ? Talk about a black eye ! Maybe the Indians should negotiate a prisoner exchange offer with the Italians now ! They keep Tyagi and we keep the other two….

  3. nak browne… trip to france… even before… cnc deliberations started… should be probed… we even know… french engineers death… in 90b case… kickbacks was the… factor…

  4. nak browne… trip to france… even before… cnc deliberations started… should be probed… we even know… french engineers death… in 90b case… kickbacks was the… factor…

  5. Sushil Kumar, Admiral Chief of Navy; Deepak Kapoor, Chief of Army Staff; S.P.Tyagi, ACM = Defense of the nation is in the hand of crooks. You need to be a thief to be chief of our armed forces.

  6. Wasn't Tyagi and company aware that this was comming? The CBI raid should have happened prior to the story coming out, they would have had a better chance of finding things. I wonder if this is part of the game so that the accused can clean-up after themselves as much as possible to minimize the possibility of being convicted.

  7. He may be involved but he is the decoy. He is the titbit that will calm the janta while the moola goes into Swiss Banks.

  8. His share of the moola must be one case of Glenfidich (thats what the top brass have nowadays). Some guys are taking flats and even land but Tyagi doesnt look that corrupt.

  9. 1)What about ex NSA Narayanan who is now a Governor?
    2)Head of SPG at the time of change of Requirements-Mr Wanchoo.

    I guess CBI may not have records of any bank trnxn for the above 2,but since those seem to be avilable as public record for Mr Tyagi,his goose is being cooked!

    The 'brothers' booked,so that the 'family' may be free..
    Next step,cut diplomatic ties with Italy,so that even if UPA goes,next govt will NOT receive co-operation from Italy to pursue the full list of beneficiaries.

  10. So finally it turns that that one man (even if that man is the PM) can not change things in such a purchase decision that the ex ACM is being blamed for being 'Harry Hoddini' and achieving the impossible. Good to finally see some responsible reporting and now merely shrill noise and cries of lynch mobs in this case. What is disappointing is that the names that have now come up (people still in positions of power) have chosen to remain silent while one of the own – (a man who did his duty, obeyed their commands and retired to lead a peaceful life after serving the nation for 44 years) was getting needlessly target by all and sundry. Are these really the type of people India allows to rise – who care only of their own hides and will happily become cannibals to devour one of their former colleagues? A sad day and testament to India's shortage of people with moral-fiber. While ACM Tyagi has maintained a stoic silence under these attacks to prevent the services reputation from getting further tarnished- what is their excuse?

  11. Can we please stop this craziness now? Let's issue Look Out Notices against the previous NSA (oops he the Governor of West Bengal) SPG head (oops he's the Governor of Goa), Minister of Defense (oops he's today's President) and Joint Secretary – (Air Force) -oops he's the present Defense Secretary. Can't do that? Ok then – lets put blinkers before our eyes and continue to lynch a soldier who fought two wars for us, served the nation for 44 years and then dared to lead a peaceful retired life without succumbing to the lure of joining any political party. Would the government dare to go after him if he was a Dalit or part of a minority community? As usual everything in India ends with politics.

  12. Is it a coincidence that on the very day the DMK withdrew support to the central government, the CBI raided the houses of MP Stalin? Can there be a clearer message sent by the government to state that the CBI is obviously a laptop (admittedly a very growly, rabid large dog) that will be used to settle scores with anyone the government considers a threat? And now we hear the CBI raid has been suspended mid-way??? The government CAN interfere and stop the supposed proceedings of the CBI when it wants? Where is the independence of the CBI – its all a farce. I'd be highly suspicious of a supposed independent enquiry into the Chopper scam now. ACM Tyagi may well be getting framed to protect government bureaucrats & ministers.

  13. Looks like he made a bundle. Pun intended.
    BTW, none of this is suprising. When in service he actively sought to scuttle indigenous programs, tried to have funding to local programs reduced, and played a key role in pushing through dubious unproven weapons systems. After retirement he joined as a consultant to one of the very companies which benefited – look at DNAs reportage of the Barak deal. If that was not enough, he meddled in Track 2 and the Siachen affair for his political masters. Clearly angling for a Governor/political post. Ultimately his own greed proved too much for him, especially as at the end of the day he was not a politician himself but merely a facilitator.

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