I’m innocent, says Tyagi

Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi (Retd), former Chief of Air Staff, under the scanner after Italy’s investigation into alleged corruption in India’s purchase of 12 AW-101 helicopters for VVIP travel from AgustaWestland, on Wednesday denied any wrongdoing, saying the deal’s specifications were changed in 2003 (when the NDA was in power) and not in 2006 when he was Air Chief. He, however, admitted the three Tyagi brothers purportedly named in the Italian report — Julie, Dosca and Sandeep Tyagi — were his cousins, but said they had no role in defence dealings to the best of his knowledge. The former Air Chief said he was “shocked” at the allegations. “I am innocent. These allegations are baseless; I deny them categorically. The deal was signed in 2010, whereas I retired in 2007... The whole process started after I retired... The evaluation, trials, contracts took place in 2010.”