Air Asia India Limited (AAIL) has denied any wrongdoing as India’s federal police filed a case against AirAsia Group Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Mr Fernandes is booked for alleged violation of FDI norms and payment of bribes in an attempt to get an international-operations licence.
The Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI has booked Fernandes, Air Asia India Limited (AAIL) and its director R. Venkataramanan, Air Asia Bhd (Malaysia) and others for alleged violation of FDI norms and payment of bribes in an attempt to get an international-operations licence.
The case is related to the granting of a flying licence in the country in which Mr Fernandes, one Mr Tharumalingam Kanalingam @ Bo Lingam & a Mr Venkataraman who are accused of criminal conspiracy.
The case report seen by TISG says they intentionally chose to beat the legal frameworks and policies of the aviation sector of India.
The case file also says that the controllers of M/s. AirAsia (India) Ltd. Mr Anthony Francis Fernandes and Mr Bo Lingam pressurized their then CEO Mr Mrithyunjay Chandilya to pursue the matter regarding the change of the then regulatory policies for the international aviation in India suitable to them.
“Air Asia India Limited (AAIL) refutes any wrong-doing and is co-operating with all regulators and agencies to present the correct facts,” AAIL director Shuva Mandal said on Tuesday (May 29).
“In Nov 2016, AAIL had initiated criminal charges against its ex-CEO and had also commenced civil proceedings in Bangalore for such irregularities,” he said, adding that they hope to bring early resolution to the issues.
According to the case file, Mr R. Venkatramanan was involved in lobbying with stakeholders in the Government of India to secure mandatory approvals, some of them through non-transparent means, including the then Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FlpB) clearance, Noc and the attempt for removal/modification of 5/20 rule. Information has further revealed
Information also revealed that in furtherance of the said criminal conspiracy, M/s. AirAsia (lndia) Pvt. Ltd. through Mr Fernandes further employed one Mr Sunil Kapur, owner of M/s. Travel/Total Food Services as a lobbying agent to whom the
OnBoard catering contract was given by Mr Bo Lingam as a quid pro quo without any negotiation.