In a fresh revelations, an Italian court points finger at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former IAF chief S P Tyagi for receiving bribes in purchase of VVIP choppers. The Italian court issued a  judgment, that exposes the role of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in awarding the Rs 3,727-crore contract to UK-based AgustaWestland.  

The 225-page judgment of the appeal court reads, “Ultimately, there are no elements of certainty to affirm this beyond any reasonable doubt that the reduction in the operating rate was chosen contrary to the public (duty) and that Marshal Tyagi made specific acts contrary to his duty; it remains anyway the wrongfulness of his conduct, for having offered to cooperate with AW (Agusta Westland) in economic operation which prohibited all forms of mediation, and for having received large compensation in relation to its institutional activity.”

The judgment, in Italian, notes, “ this form of corruption certainly falls into the category of conduct penalized by ‘ art. 322 bis, c. 2 n. 2, C.P (sic).

“So, in the absence of contrary indications, it must be concluded that the reward bestowed to ‘Tyagi family’ for their work in support of AW in relation to the race of the Government [of] India for military helicopters amounts to €. 10,500,000.”

Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that, "There is reasonable belief that corruption had taken place and it was validly proven that 10-15 million dollars made way to Indian officials." "Bribe givers have been convicted. Why are bribe takers silent?" he asked.

"The Milan Court of Appeals in its judgement has said that, bribe was paid by AgustaWestland to Indian officials to get the contract for the supply of 12 AW101 choppers. The 225-page judgement on page 193 mentions Sonia Gandhi's name, apart from other places," said BJP spokesman Sambit Patra.

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- Nandini