New Delhi: It's a major eye-opener in controversial AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal!
The 225-page judgement by the Milan Court of Appeals (an Italian court) says that there was "reasonable belief that corruption took place" in the 2010 VVIP helicopter deal and the former Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi was involved.
The judgement by the Italian court has a separate 17-page chapter on SP Tyagi explaining the grounds on which it came to the conclusion on the corruption of the former IAF chief, according to a report by The Economic Times.
Moreover, the court said it was "validly proven" that a part of $10-15 million in illicit funds made their way to Indian officials.
SP Tyagi was IAF chief from 2005-07 when VVIP choped deal was processed. However, he has denied involvement in any wrongdoings.
Earlier, on Monday, BJP raked up the VVIP chopper scandal in Lok Sabha following the Italian court's reported observation that the UPA government showed "substantial disregard" in arriving at the full truth behind the multi-crore scam.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said that the observations of the Italian court that found corruption in the Rs 3,565-crore AgustaWestland deal, were serious.
Seeking a statement from the Defence Ministry, she said Italy had requested India in April 2013 to get full documentation in the case but was provided only three documents and that too in 2014.
She wanted a thorough probe in the matter as also a discussion in the House.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu assured the member that he would bring the matter to the notice of the Defence Minister.
