CBI to question Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Emirates for taking aids of Deepak Talwar

CBI has accused Malaysian carrier Air Asia and the Gulf-based Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Emirates to allegedly take help of corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar. Talwar has helped them to get enhancement of seats and favourable air routes at the cost of Air India and Indian Airlines.

CBI in its charge sheet filed against Talwar and others has alleged that he had "conspired and lobbied with his aides" to facilitate "bilateral arrangements in favour of foreign airlines" for enhancement of seat entitlement and air routes which caused losses to the public sector carriers. The CBI has also claimed to have found proof showing Talwar extending help to Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Emirates.

CBI has kept open the investigation in the matter in which the alleged role of the then Union civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel is also under scanner.

The Supreme Court has ordered the CBI to take the case where the petitioner had alleged that Indian Airlines and Air India were made to give up profitable routes and timings in favour of private operators.

The FIR filed by the petitioner alleged in his pleadings before Supreme Court that Ministry of Civil Aviation under Praful Patel, by abusing position as a public servant in conspiracy with other public servants and private domestic and foreign airlines made the national carriers give up profit making routes and profit making timings of Air India in favour of national and International private airlines causing a huge loss of market share to the national carriers .Such acts of commission were made on extraneous considerations causing immense loss to the national carriers and pecuniary benefit to private, domestic and foreign airlines.