Nationalist Congress Party Ex-leader Praful Patel has been let off in an alleged corruption case as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded there was no “evidence of any wrongdoing”. The case was registered in 2017 to probe the allegations of irregularities in leasing aircraft for Air India.

Source: NDTV

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Allegations had been made that under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, many Air India aircraft were leased, which severely hit the airlines’ finances. The charges claimed that Air India made huge losses after the move while private persons made pecuniary gains.

This leasing agreement was finalized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation under the then minister Praful Patel and the National Aviation Corporation of India, a body formed after the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines.

Source: Business Today

The airlines began running at very low load due to large-scale acquisitions and a significant increase in the number of flights, the FIR had alleged. It also stated that when the leasing decision was made, some of Air India’s international flights were running almost empty.

The CBI initially alleged that the decision was made “dishonestly,” and the aircraft were leased even while an acquisition program was going on.

It is Noteworthy that Mr. Praful Patel recently, in July 2023 joined the NDA. In July last year, Praful Patel was among the senior NCP leaders who broke away from the party supremo Sharad Pawar and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The faction, led by Ajit Pawar, is currently part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra along with BJP and Shiv Sena.

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