Praful Patel offers ED expert' help to understand aviation sector

Mumbai: After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned former aviation minister Praful Patel to question him in Talwar Aviation scam case, the NCP leader said he would be happy to cooperate with the ED to help them “understand the complexities of the aviation sector”.

The allegations pertain to favouring his friend with contracts while heading the ministry. Patel on Saturday attended the NCP meeting chaired by party president Sharad Pawar in Mumbai, however, he left the meeting immediately after the news of ED summons broke.

The ED sought to question Patel and has asked him to appear at ED’s Delhi office on June 6. The case pertains to an ongoing money-laundering probe related to alleged losses suffered by national carrier Air India in an alleged multi-crore aviation scam when Patel was the Union civil aviation minister.

According to official sources, the ED wanted to confront Patel with certain revelations made by arrested aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.

The questioning comes in the backdrop of the agency recently filing a chargesheet in the case naming Talwar, claiming he was was in regular touch with Mr Patel.

Mr Patel who was in Mumbai, attending a party meeting called by NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, “I am happy to cooperate with the Enforcement Directorate to help them understand the complexities of the aviation sector. The matter pertains to bilateral agreements for the exchange of flying rights between two governments where any private individual has no role to play.”

“Traffic rights to foreign airlines are granted by their respective countries and not by the government of India. Flying rights or ‘seat entitlements’ are equal for both the respective countries. This policy has been in practice for the past 60 years or more till date irrespective of any government,” he added.

Mr Patel further said, “This issue has been examined in great detail by the CAG which says the liberalised policy towards bilateral entitlements benefited the Indian traveller considerably in terms of choices and lower tariffs."

“Moreover, the CAG report does not point out any loss incurred by the exchequer and has not indicated any government functionaries or pointed out any lacuna in the process,” the NCP leader said.

The NCP state president Jayant Patil, “I don’t want to react today about ED’s summons. This is a new news to us. I don’t think that there is any issue in this. Because of Mr Patel,  several airports are all over India. There was very great momentum in civil aviation because of him. So I think his works are commendable. I am sure that the decisions were made by a committee of ministers and not only an individual. Mr Patel would satisfy the agency adequately.”