The CBI has summoned R Ramachandran Venkata-ramanan, the Director of AirAsia India, on July 3 for questioning in connection with alleged corruption in attempts to get international operations clearances from the Government. CBI officials said the agency has recently questioned Chief Financial Officer of the airlines Deepak Mahendra.
It is alleged that accused promoters of the company and board of directors allegedly entered in criminal conspiracy with unidentified government officials through lobbyists to expedite the approval process for AirAsia India and change in aviation policies to suit the company.
“It was further alleged that FIPB the (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) and FDI norms were violated by said air group by giving effective management control to a foreign entity by making the said private airline (Air Asia India ltd) a de-facto subsidiary indirectly rather than a joint venture,” the CBI had said.
The agency has alleged that lobbyists were paid money which was utilised for paying bribe to unknown public servants and others for securing permit for operation of international scheduled air transport services.
The CBI registered a corruption case against Fernandes, aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar and others for alleged violation of norms in getting licences for international operations. The case relates to the allegations of getting relaxation from the 5/20 rules of the Ministry of Aviation for procuring licences and also from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) rules during UPA regime in 2013 and 2014. As per 5/20 rule, national carriers are required to have five years of operational experience and a fleet of minimum 20 aircraft to fly overseas.
It is also alleged that accused persons paid money that was used to pay bribes to known public servants and others for securing permit for the operation of international services.
Also, Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against the AirAsia officials and others for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get international licence for its Indian venture AirAsia India limited.
ED has pressed sections of the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMlA) to probe alleged tainted funds were used to create illegal assets and it has taken cognisance of the FIR lodged by CBI.
