Enforcement Directorate files cases over Air India deals under UPA rule

The Enforcement Directorate has registered multiple cash laundering cases to investigate dubious aviation deals struck during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance regime that cost Air India heavy losses and generated illegal wealth for certain state functionaries.

Two of the four enforcement case information reports — ECIRs are equivalent to FIRs — lodged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act relate to the state airline's merger with its contemporaneous flag carrier, Indian Airlines.

The cases have been filed on the basis of four FIRs lodged last year by the Central Bureau of Investigation. They pertain to purchase of 111 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, leasing of planes, relinquishing of AI's profit-making routes to private players, and its 2007 merger with IA, all of which allegedly burned a hole in the exchequer's pocket the size of thousands of crores of rupees.

A senior ED officer said the agency has collected all relevant documents from the airline and central departments in connection with the cases. "Then officials of AI and aviation ministry have been charged with cheating, corruption and criminal conspiracy," said the officer.

UNDER SCANNER

• Cases filed after SC told CBI to probe 'irregularities' in aviation ministry during 2004-08 when UPA was in office
   
• Allegations, by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, include craft purchase worth Rs70K cr, surrender of AI's profitable routes to private players
   
• Cong's Praful Patel headed aviation ministry at the time