No Decision To Blacklist Finmeccanica, CBI Questions Former Indian Air Chief

India's lead investigation agency the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday questioned former air force chief of staff SP Tyagi in the VVIP-AgustaWestland helicopter bribery scandal.

The agency say they are looking into allegations that several officials including Tyagi received kickbacks from AgustaWestland’s parent company Finmeccanica to ensure the company wins the helicopter competition.

Members of Tyagi’s family, cousins Julie and Docsa Tyagi, were also questioned about their alleged contacts with European middlemen Carlo Gerosa and Guido Haschkhe.

Defense Minister A. K. Antony on Wednesday told the Parliament that the contract with AgustaWestland had been put on hold pending further investigation.

"No decision has been made on whether to blacklist the company", Antony said.

The CBI also recently questioned managers at the Indian branches of Aeromatrix and IDS Infotech, which prosecutors believe acted as intermediaries by issuing false engineering contracts and routing bribes through the Mauritius Islands and Tunisia, according to various reports.