IAF says its ex-pilot not among 3 Indians in VVIP helicopter probe

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued a clarification denying that a former pilot is among the Indians named in a bribery case surrounding the sale of VVIP helicopters to the IAF from Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland, that is owned by Italian industrial conglomerate Finmeccanica.

Air Force PRO, Squadron Leader Priya Joshi issued a clarification saying, "As per the records held with the IAF, there is no ex- IAF Officer/pilot by the name of Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi as has been mentioned by a media report dated 27 Oct 2012."

Earlier, media reports had carried details of the probe into allegations of bribery and money laundering in the Rs 3500 crore deal wherein Sunil Kumar Tyagi had been named mentioned as a Delhi businessman and former IAF pilot.

Aeromatrix is owned by Swiss-consultant Guido Haschke. Finmeccanica is the parent company of AgustaWestland and is under the scanner after a few arrests were made in Italy in connection with the case.