Drone Federation India (DFI) formerly known as Drone Federation of India is under intense scrutiny following proof of forging official documents to manipulate regulatory approvals had surfaced.
As per sources, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed on January 29, 2025 before the Delhi High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation against the forgery of government documents by DFI. The PIL, submitted by Right to Information (RTI) activist Tej Pratap Singh, claims that DFI forged the NOC to bypass legal obstacles and change its company name.
The fraudulent document, submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), aimed to rebrand the organization as “Drone Federation of India,” potentially misleading the public into believing it was government-affiliated. The relevant documents are in possession of The Pioneer.
In addition to the forgery, DFI is accused of using lobbying tactics to unfairly influence tenders to certain select member companies, thereby suppressing competition in the UAV industry. Further scrutiny has arisen over DFI’s occupancy of office space at the former Air India Building, allegedly secured through questionable recommendations.
Sources said MCA has initiated an inspection and the PIL calls for urgent action seeking a CBI investigation to ensure transparency and accountability. Drone Federation India now face serious legal consequences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal forgery under Section 61, 316, 336, 337, 338 and 340 of BNS, 2023 which are cognizable and non-bailable in nature.
When contacted to the company officials, a DFI official said, “DFI is a renowned think tank, not a drone company, and the claim in question is fake,” commented the DFI official. Despite submitting a detailed report to both the CBI and MCA, RTI activist Singh claims a lack of proper communication from the agencies, prompting him to approach the court for swift action.
