In a startling turn of events, Captain Anil Gill, the director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been suspended over corruption allegations involving the acceptance of aircraft as bribes. The suspension comes in the wake of anonymous emails received by both the DGCA and the Ministry of Aviation, detailing the alleged misuse of authority by Captain Gill.
According to the accusations, Captain Gill is said to have accepted three aircraft as bribes from flying schools. In return, he reportedly leased the planes to various institutions, each fetching a rental fee of Rs.90 lakh. The Ministry of Aviation, in response to these serious allegations, has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards malpractices, asserting that such actions will be met with severe consequences as per the law.
As part of the disciplinary measures, the Ministry of Aviation has reassigned Captain Gill from the position of director FT to director Aerosports. This decision, made in the aftermath of the corruption allegations, underscores the gravity of the situation. Additionally, the DGCA has urged the ministry to transfer the investigation into Gill’s actions to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The email accusations not only revolve around the acceptance of aircraft as bribes but also claim that Captain Gill coerced a DGCA-approved Flying Training Organization (FTO) to send him to the Czech Republic for unnecessary training on Piper PA-28 Aircraft. Another layer of the scandal involves allegations of Gill receiving commissions in Forex while facilitating business relations between his benami company, Sabres Corporate Solutions, and the aircraft manufacturer, Bristell Aircraft. The purported deal was intended to directly supply aircraft to Skynex Aeroflight Solutions, an FTO mentioned in the allegations.
The severity of the accusations, including potential violations of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, suggests a deeper layer of financial impropriety that could have widespread ramifications.
