According to government sources, the MHA on April 30 had asked the civil aviation ministry to tell Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately withdraw the licences given to GVHL helicopters.
In yet another jolt to Ravindra Rishi, chairman of the London-based Vectra Group, who is already under CBI investigation over Tatra trucks deal, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has ordered withdrawal of security clearance to its aviation subsidiary Global Vectra Helicorp Limited.
According to government sources, the MHA on April 30 had asked the civil aviation ministry to tell Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to immediately withdraw the licences given to GVHL helicopters.
The decision which, sources said, amounts to cancellation of security clearance, is likely to hamper anti-Maoist operations as Global Vectra along was partner to a consortium that was finalised to wet lease fortified MI-17 plus helicopters for operations in Maoist hotbed after MHA failed to get helicopters from Indian Air Force and private players.
Refuting the news, GVHL in a communique said, “We wish to state that GVHL has not received any information or communication from the ministry of civil aviation, DGCA, nor from any other authority, that the security clearance of this company has been withdrawn. We are presently investigating this news item and we will supply further information at a later stage. GVHL is a public listed company and all our offshore and onshore operations are continuing as normal as per schedule.”
But contrary to GVHL, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh told a television channel that home ministry had informed his ministry about some security related issues with Global Vectra pending which the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been asked to immediately withdraw the licences of Vectra company.
Having a fleet of 23 helicopters and listed on the National and Mumbai stock exchanges, GVHL also operates services at the Vaishno Devi shrine, during Amarnath Yatra and in offshore projects like Bombay High and in Assam. Besides it also leases out choppers regularly to politicians during elections and for important tours.
Though no specific reasons could be known, sources said it could be related to CBI enquiry into Vectra Group deals in sourcing out Tatra trucks to the Indian defence forces.
In order to meet the resultant scarcity of choppers, the civil aviation is understood to have got in touch with government owned Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited.
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