The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of former Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, who is on bail after being arrested in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, to the CBI’s plea challenging his bail claiming its probe would be “hampered” if he remains out.
Justice Vipin Sanghi issued the notice to Tyagi, who was arrested on December 9 and granted bail on December 26, listed the matter for hearing on January 3 after the CBI said the bail pleas of other accused in the case are likely to be heard by the trial court on January 4.
Justice Sanghi said the endeavour of the court would be to dispose of the matter on January 3 after hearing all the parties.
The CBI argued before the High Court that if Tyagi remained out on bail, that would lead to its line of investigation being “exposed” and “hampered” and the evidence could also be destroyed.
The CBI also said its probe was “multi-layered” as it was spread across several countries since various companies were allegedly used to “camouflage the bribe money”.
The contention came in response to the High Court’s query as to why should the 72-year old former Chief of Air Staff be retained in judicial custody at this stage when he was in the custody of the CBI for a week prior to getting bail.
The CBI admitted that though the FIR was registered in 2013, “real core investigation started only a few months back” and hence it did not want Tyagi to be out on bail till a charge sheet is filed. He could “alert other potential accused”.
On December 26, a special court granted bail to Tyagi, saying the CBI has failed to state the alleged bribe amount and when it was paid.
Tyagi, who was interrogated by the CBI in its custody for seven days, was asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and a surety of like amount as pre-requisites for his release on bail.
