The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has closed the corruption case involving Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel, nearly eight months after he transitioned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance following an internal division within the party.
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CBI Probe into Aircraft Leasing Irregularities
A case revolves around suspected irregularities in the leasing of aircraft by the National Aviation Corporation of India Ltd. (NACIL), which was established after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines during the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) era. The Supreme Court issued orders in 2017 directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate these allegations.
Following a public interest litigation, the CBI initiated an investigation into claims that public officials arranged leases for 15 costly aircraft without having pilots available.
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Financial Mismanagement: Air India’s Costly Leasing Decisions
The FIR alleges that despite Air India facing low passenger loads and significant financial losses, authorities made a decision to lease a considerable number of aircraft. It accused certain individuals of acting dishonestly and conspiring with unidentified parties, leading to financial gains for private companies and losses to the government treasury.
The FIR stated that Air India leased four Boeing 777s for a five-year period in 2006, despite the fact that it was suppose to receive its own aircraft from July 2007 onwards. Consequently, five Boeing 777s and five Boeing 737s remained unused on the ground, resulting in an estimated loss of ₹840 crores between 2007 and 2009 to benefit private entities.
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Court Hearing Scheduled: Judge Prashant Kumar’s Notice
Special Judge Prashant Kumar has recently issued a notice to the investigating officer and scheduled the matter for April 15, 2024. The court will determine whether to approve the closure report or instruct the agency to conduct further investigation based on any issues the court may raise.