AGENCIES / NEW DELHI
NCP leader Praful Patel appeared for questioning before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi for the second day today. The former Union Civil Aviation Minister of the UPA government is being probed in connection with a money laundering case related to losses suffered by Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore aviation scam.
Yesterday, the investigating officer of the case recorded Patel’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.Officials said, the Rajya Sabha MP was asked to appear again as the questioning and recording of his statement has to continue.
The case emerged from a criminal complaint registered by the ED for alleged irregularities in fixing air slots for international airlines that purportedly led to losses for Air India, the national carrier. A case for the purchase of 111 aircraft for the national Air carrier during Patel’s tenure is also under probe.
Patel was also named in a recent chargesheet filed by the federal agency before a court, as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.
Talwar was arrested by the ED sometime back.