The crime period mentioned in the FIR is from 2013-2016. "AirAsia applied for licences in 2013 and by May 2014 they got air operating permit", a senior CBI official told NDTV.
CBI in its five-page FIR has named 10 accused, including Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes
The CBI would probe the role of two former ministers in the UPA-2 government for helping AirAsia in getting an international licence and Foreign Investment Promotion Board or FIPB clearances. The Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI claims that bribes were paid to get rules changed and to obtain licences.
The probe agency, in its five-page FIR or complaint, has named 10 accused, including Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes and Air Asia Director and Tata Trusts Managing Trustee R Venkatraman for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get an international licence for its Indian venture Air Asia India Limited or AAIL.
The CBI has also named Rajender Dubey - Director of Singapore-based HNR Trading Pte Ltd, Sunil Kapur, Chairman Total Food Services, Mumbai and Deepak Talwar, Principal and Founder DTA Consulting, New Delhi and the company HNR Trading as alleged lobbyists who used their influence to get the 5/20 rule relaxed "before General Elections of 2014".
The probe agency, in its five-page FIR or complaint, has named 10 accused, including Group CEO of AirAsia Tony Fernandes and Air Asia Director and Tata Trusts Managing Trustee R Venkatraman for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get an international licence for its Indian venture Air Asia India Limited or AAIL.
The CBI has also named Rajender Dubey - Director of Singapore-based HNR Trading Pte Ltd, Sunil Kapur, Chairman Total Food Services, Mumbai and Deepak Talwar, Principal and Founder DTA Consulting, New Delhi and the company HNR Trading as alleged lobbyists who used their influence to get the 5/20 rule relaxed "before General Elections of 2014".
The 5/20 rule, which came into effect in 2004, stipulated that a carrier needs to be in operation for five years and possess 20 aircraft to become eligible to fly abroad.
The FIR states that on February 27, 2014, a "secret" cabinet note was moved to do away with clause 5/20 rule, and in March the ministry further moved another note but the cabinet could not give a go-ahead as elections were already notified by the Election Commission on March5, 2014.
The NDA government amended the rule in June 2016, removing the five-year operation clause, though the CBI FIR does not make it clear whether it says the policy change was effected through corrupt practices.
The crime period mentioned in the FIR is from 2013-2016. "AirAsia applied for licences in 2013 and by May 2014 they got air operating permit", a senior CBI official told NDTV.
According to him, the bribe money was paid before general elections 2014. Deepak Talwar got Rs. 17 lakh and Rajendra Dubey Rs. 12.28 crores as consultancy charges. "We are now probing the money trail further", he added.
It is alleged that next year AAIL remitted about Rs. 12.28 crores to HNR Trading Pte. Ltd. of Mr Dubey for a "sham contract" on the basis of a bogus agreement on plain paper. This money was allegedly utilized for paying a bribe to unknown public servants of and others for securing a permit for international operations through Mr Talwar and Mr Kapur who acted as lobbying agents, the FIR said.
According to the Foreign Direct Investment or FDI policy between 2013-2014, foreign airlines were allowed to own only 49 percent shares in domestic airlines but effective management control must remain with the Indian partner, the agency said.
Read more on https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-airasia-case-cbi-to-probe-role-of-2-former-ministers-1859617
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