VVIP chopper scam: Supreme Court seeks CBI’s response on Michel James’ bail plea

As per the CBI probe, a contract for supply of 12 VVIP/non-VVIP helicopters was awarded to M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd., UK, for an amount of Euro 556.262 million (`3,726.96 crore) and an agreement to this effect was executed on February 8, 2010 between the Ministry of Defence and M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd. It is alleged that former Chief of Air Staff S P Tyagi, between 2005 and 2007, accorded approval for reducing the altitude ceiling for VVIP helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres. This allowed M/s AgustaWestland International Ltd. to enter the fray after being disqualified in 2002.

The CBI said Michel James was a consultant of M/s AgustaWestland and acted as a middleman negotiating on behalf of the firm. During the negotiations he got crucial confidential information about the progress on procurement process of VVIP helicopters through his sources and passed on the information to M/s AgustaWestland, the agency said. According to the CBI, undue favour was given to M/s AgustaWestland for awarding the contract of procurement of VVIP helicopters in its favour by accepting illegal gratification from it through middleman/relatives including Sanjeev Tyagi @ Julie Tyagi, Gautam Khaitan and others by exercising influence through corrupt and illegal means and also using personal influence over the public servant concerned.

The agency claimed that Michel James “had been paid a huge bribe amount by M/s AgustaWestland, which was paid to the officers of Indian Air Force, MOD, bureaucrats, politicians and family in India for showing favour in the VVIP helicopter deal”.