meeting with former CEO of Finmeccanica Giuseppe Orsi where they discussed the helicopter tender.
"Thanks to Indian notables of my knowledge, I was able to organise a meeting between Zappa (believed to be another middleman) and the Chief of (Air) Staff, Air (Chief) Marshal Tyagi," he said.
The issue of bribery in the defence deal resurfaced after the arrest of Orsi and AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini in Italy for paying kickbacks.
The investigation report suggests that the S P Tyagi had met the middlemen more than six to seven times and allegedly briefing them about the developments in the contract.
According to Italian prosecutors, kickbacks to the tune of Rs 360 crore were allegedly paid in the Rs 3,600 crore deal for supply of 12 helicopters by Italian firm AgustaWestland.