New Delhi, Dec. 26: A Delhi court today granted bail to former air chief S.P. Tyagi, citing gaps in the CBI's bribery allegations against him and rejecting its charge that he might tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if released.

Judge Arvind Kumar said the agency "had failed to show how much cash was paid to the accused and when it was paid" in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal.

"Admittedly, the CBI has seized documents regarding (Tyagi's) properties in the year 2013.... More than three years and nine months have passed but (it) could not conduct probe in this regard," the special CBI court said.

It also referred to the 71-year-old Tyagi's age and medical condition as it granted him bail on a surety of Rs 2 lakh. The court has directed him not to leave the National Capital Region without its permission and to join the probe whenever required.

Tyagi's tearful wife and other family members present in the court said their faith in the judiciary had been "restored".

The basis of the chopper kickbacks case has come under the glare since Italy's Supreme Court last week ordered a retrial of two convicted former executives of Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland, in the kickbacks case.

Opposing Tyagi's bail plea, the agency had told the court the accused was a high-profile person and, if released, might influence witnesses and destroy evidence.

But judge Kumar highlighted that Tyagi had joined the investigation whenever called by the CBI. "(The) accused has been a senior government servant. The correctness or otherwise of the allegation as to whether the accused has taken any kickbacks and in what manner he was connected with the same can only be looked into during the course of trial."

Tyagi had alleged that his arrest was a ploy by the Narendra Modi government to deflect attention from the people's demonetisation woes.