NCP leader and fmr Civil Aviation minister summoned by ED on June 11

The former union civil aviation minister and leader of Nationalist Congress party Praful Patel is in jeopardy these days. He has now been summoned by ED at its Delhi headquarter in Khan Market office.

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned him for today, the 7th June, as it was during the tenure of the former minister in United Progressive Front government under Dr. Manmohan Singh’s prime ministership Praful Patel that certain bureaucrats have allegedly arbitrarily played a pivotal role in help securing favourable air traffic for the foreign airlines at the cost of Air India thus causing huge losses to public exchequer at the behest of middleman Deepak Talwar.

The case against lobbyist Deepak Talwar in the above context as one of the main accused is already under process and the former union civil aviation minister was summoned to Delhi at ED office, Lok Nayak Bhawan for interrogation in this case having wider ramifications.

The National Congress leader Praful Patel has however requested the Enforcement Directorate for more time due to his prior engagements. He had requested for next date. The summons were for 7th June, Thursday but now he has been asked to appear on 11th June.

It may be recalled that Deepak Talwar had been the key man working as an intermediary to crack deals for the few foreign airlines secure air traffic in league with some senior bureaucrats in the civil aviation ministry during the tenure of the Nationalist Congress leader Praful Patel as civil aviation minister.

It was during his tenure that lots of private airlines were benefitted to the core and the entire Palam International and domestic airports got a complete and modern face lift.

Sources reveal that the ED officials have aceded to Patel’s request and has now summoned him on 11th June. Sources reveal that the role of some senior bureaucrats and ministers during UPA government are also under the ED lens who could be investigated threadbare in the near future.

While certain private airlines allegedly benefitted during the UPA tenure, the Air India ran in huge losses reveal sources.

Deepak Talwar the key middleman lived abroad and conducted his business from the foreign country. The Enforcement Directorate which earlier had the direct power to arrest the culprits in foreign currency arbitrary deals without bail was possessing criminal powers under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act but now it has become a civil law with amendments called FEMA ( Foreign Exchange Management Act) a bailable offence.