Former Civil Aviation Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday and requested the agency for another date to depose in connection with a money-laundering probe related to the losses suffered by national carrier
Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore-rupee aviation scam.
Patel’s request for another date for questioning came hours before his appearance scheduled before the agency. The agency had summoned him earlier this month and asked him to appear before the Investigating Officer of the case on Thursday.
Patel has also been named in a recent chargesheet filed by the ED before a court as a person known to aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.
Patel who is a NCP leader, was in charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry between 2004 and 2011 during the United Progressive Alliance regime, has not been mentioned as an accused in the case till now.
“Due to my prior commitments, I have requested ED for another date,” Patel said in Mumbai.
The statement of Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
After summoning by the agency, Patel had reacted saying he would be happy to cooperate with the ED for their understanding of the complexities of the aviation industry.
The scam relates to allocation of favourable airline routes to foreign operators to the detriment of the national carrier Air India.
