After Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation is all set to interrogate former aviation minister Praful Patel in connection with aviation scam involving NCP leader Praful Patel.
The senior NCP leader was summoned by the CBI to join the probe on August 5 but Praful Patel informed the central agency that due to on-going Rajya Sabha session, he won’t be able to appear before the investigators. However, sources say that Praful Patel has also told the central probe agency that he is available post-August 8.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar in connection with the alleged aviation scam.
Aviation minister Praful Patel was recently grilled by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) for 3 days in connection with the same case. Deepak Talwar’s custody was extended for another two days on Wednesday on grounds that the agency wants to confront him with public servants. Deepak Talwar was deported from Dubai earlier this year by the Indian agencies.
Praful Patel, who was mentioned in the charge sheet by ED, was the civil aviation minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government when these deals took place.
According to the probe agency, Deepak Talwar, who was recently deported from Dubai, illegally engaged in liasoning/lobbying with politicians, ministers, other public servants and officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation for airlines such as Emirates, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways for securing undue benefits for them. Sources say, Talwar illegally managed to secure favourable traffic rights for these airlines during 2008-09 at the cost of the national carrier, Air India.
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