Ex-IAF Chief Tyagi’s Offence Shamed Country, His Bail Illegal: CBI

CBI claimed it was a serious matter and the accused was trying to delay the proceedings before the high court.

Former Indian Air Force Chief SP Tyagi. (Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

CBI on Monday alleged in the Delhi High Court that former IAF chief SP Tyagi, accused in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case, has committed a serious offence which "shames the country" and the order passed by the trial court granting him bail was "illegal".

The agency, which has challenged the bail granted to Tyagi, claimed before Justice IS Mehta that it was a serious matter and the accused was trying to delay the proceedings before the high court as several other persons, who are involved in the case, want him to remain out of jail.

Tyagi's counsel countered the CBI’s submissions claiming there was no evidence against Tyagi in the case and they would respond to the plea and additional affidavit which was filed by the agency on 6 January.

However, the ASG told the court that besides seeking cancellation of bail granted to the former IAF chief, the CBI has also moved separate pleas in the high court against the trial court's order granting bail to two other co-accused, Sanjeev Tyagi alias Juile and lawyer Gautam Khaitan.

The trial court has granted bail to two other accused (Sanjeev and Khaitan) and we have also challenged these orders in the high court. Let all these pleas be heard together as the matter emanates from the same FIR, the judge was same in the trial court.

Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General

The court has fixed the matter for 18 January after Tyagi's counsel said they would file their reply on the CBI's plea as well as on their additional affidavit.

Initially, when Tyagi's counsel requested the court to list the matter after 26 January citing some personal difficulty, the ASG said that it is a serious offence and the matter should be heard soon.

The accused will try to delay the matter. Several persons are involved in this case in which probe was conducted in more than one country. People who are involved wants him (Tyagi) to remain out.

CBI has moved the high court challenging bail granted to Tyagi by a trial court on 26 December last year on the ground that he could allegedly "hamper" the probe.

(With inputs from PTI)