Standard Post with Image

Aviation Ministry Denies Receiving Praful Patel’s Letter Seeking a Probe in Air India’s ‘Irregularity’

  • Despite statements of both Mr Patel and the present aviation minister Ajit Singh being shown prominently on various TV channels, the ministry informed RTI activist Subhash Aggrawal that “no information is available”About a month ago, a palpably embarrassed Praful Patel wrote a letter to the present civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, seeking a probe into allegations that in 2010, the national carrier Air India had deployed bigger aircraft to and from Male in Maldives to accommodate Mr Patel’s family. Despite the wide media coverage Mr Patel’s letter got, now the civil aviation ministry says that it has no knowledge of its existence.

  • In reply to RTI (Right to Information) activist Subhash Chandra Aggrawal, who had asked for a copy of Mr Patel’s letter, the PIO of the ministry replied “No information is available.” Similarly, Mr Singh’s comment, which too was reported in the media that deploying of larger aircraft is an ‘irregularity’—is also not available with the ministry.

  • “It is indeed adding further to the impropriety now by Union civil aviation ministry to decline providing Praful Patel’s letter seeking a probe in the matter despite statements of both the concerned Union ministers in this regard having been shown prominently by various TV news channels. Instead of hiding the facts, the ministry should probe the matter,” said Mr Aggrawal.

  • In April 2010, Air India had deployed larger aircraft to apparently accommodate the family of Patel on their trip to Maldives from Bangalore. The matter was revealed via a RTI petition. The larger Airbus deployed to accommodate Mr Patel’s daughter and her in-laws for their vacation, however, had to operate under loss because many seats were empty on the two-way trip. Read the details here: Air India must disclose details of planes rolled out for VIPs

  • Despite a Central Information Commission (CIC) directive, Air India refused to supply all details, and asked for a review of the CIC decision. Finally, Air India had to disclose the passenger list and the names of officers who validated the decision. Moneylife had written about it. Air India finally admits that it gave bigger plane to Praful Patel’s family

  • The matter received good amount of media attention, as Mr Patel, who was the then civil aviation minister himself had ordered this misuse and caused losses to the national career. As public sentiment built up against him, Mr Patel was forced to write to his successor and urge a probe into the matter.

Source