Naresh Goyal prevented from leaving India

Mumbai: Immigration authorities on Saturday afternoon prevented Jet Airways founder and former chairman Naresh Goyal and his wife, Anita Goyal, from flying abroad due to a lookout circular issued by the Union home ministry.

The couple — who was travelling to London —was offloaded from Dubai-bound Emirates flight EK 507, which was scheduled to depart at 3.35 pm from Mumbai airport.

The couple had checked in their baggage, which was in the name of Ms Goyal. The immigration authority was acting on a lookout notice issued by the ministry of home affairs. “Mr Goyal and his wife were travelling to London on EK 507 but were restricted from leaving the country. The aircraft had reached the taxiway when it was recalled and they were taken into custody by immigration officers,” said a senior executive at the airport.

Kiran Pawaskar, president of All India Jet Airways Officers & Staff Association, had written a letter to Mumbai police last month, demanding the impounding of the passports of Mr Goyal and other senior members of the Jet Airways management as the airline had not paid  its employees for several months.

The Goyals had resigned from the board of Jet Airways in March following a debt restructuring plan. He had also resigned as the airline chairman.