Few days after the Patiala House court had granted bail to Former Air force Chief SP Tyagi who was arrested in connection with the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers scam on December 26, PIL has been filed on Tuesday, January 3 alleging journalists to have taken Rs 50 crore for writing in favor of AgustaWestland deal.
The Indian media and some journalists came under the Supreme Court radar for allegedly getting pay-offs from Italian firm AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica to write in favour of the multi-crore Agusta Westland VVIP chopper deal.
Supreme Court has also agreed to hear the plea seeking SIT probe against the scribes.
In 2013, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government inked a deal with UK-based AgustaWestland for procuring 12 AW101 choppers meant for the Indian Air Force. These helicopters were purchased for ferrying the President, Prime Minister as well as other VVIPs.
SP Tyagi was accused of committing financial fraud in procuring 12 helicopters for the military from Italian firm AugustaWestland, a deal worth almost Rs 3,700 crore.
Besides Tyagi, businessman Gautam Khaitan and Delhi-based lawyer Sanjeev alias Julie Tyagi were also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the CBI, all the three people have been arrested on the allegations accepting illegal gratification for exercising influence through corrupt and or illegal means. The accused have been arrested under Section 120B, Section 420 IPC & Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; were called for questioning at CBI headquarters.
