Capt. Chandra is being investigated by the CVC & ED yet Air India is under pressure to issue NOC for his extension as CFOI in DGCA, where he is on deputation

Kalchakra’s Impact:
Capt. Chandra goes back to Air India: But a lot needs to be investigated

June 29th, After the posting of this report by Kalchakra, Air India filed a chargesheet against Capt. Atul Chandra and thereafter the DGCA was also left with no option but to part with Capt. Chandra as CFOI.
However, as per the selective leak (by some DGCA officials connected with Chandra) to some journalists, the DGCA has appreciated Capt. Chandra for his role in DGCA by stating that ‘he served DGCA with a zeal not seen in many.’. This is surprising and poses many questions.
It is a matter of investigation whether Capt. Chandra served the organization with honesty & objectivity or indulged in malpractices. In near future number of cases & files dealt by Chandra will have to be examined ?

It is disturbing that despite the common practice of suspending the suspect under investigation, the national carrier Air India is all set to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the extension of deputation of Capt. Atul Chandra, who is currently posted as the Chief Flight Operations Inspector (CFOI) with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Capt. Chandra has been accused of embezzlement / misappropriation of Government money by drawing double salaries in crores, from Air India and DGCA. He is also under the Enforcement Directorate’s lens for various violations of FEMA and PMLA.

According to the sources in Air India, the management has been under tremendous pressure from various influential people, claiming to be very close to the top union ministers and the PMO. These people are pressurising Rajiv Bansal, CMD Air India to extend the tenure of Chandra’s deputation in the DGCA which ends on 30th June, 2020.

As per Rule 10(1) of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965, Section 4, read with the explanation therein, clearly states that pending an inquiry, the official needs to be placed under suspension. But in the case of Capt. Chandra all rules have been kept on back burner to facilitate his continuation for such a sensitive assignment, where he adjudges the violations done by any pilot, whether serving in private or government airlines or with state governments and para military forces. One can imagine a corrupt CFOI in such important position can cause havoc with the lives of common passengers, VVIPs and paramilitary personnel. He would not hesitate to give clearances, by accepting bribes, to such pilots who should not be allowed to fly.

Capt. Chandra was working with Air India till January 2017, when he came on deputation to DGCA. Surprisingly, Chandra continued to draw salaries for nearly two years, both from Air India and DGCA, till it was exposed in 2019. On conducting an internal inquiry, Air India wrote to the DGCA to relieve Chandra so that he could join back Air India and the investigation could be carried out. However, due to reasons best known to the DGCA, the request was declined and Chandra continues to ‘perform’ his duties as CFOI.

On 10th June, 2020, the matter was reported to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) by Rajneesh Kapur, Managing Editor of Kalchakra, with a request to investigate and suspend the accused, till the investigation is completed. “It is surprising that till date why no FIR has been registered by Air India against Chandra for drawing two salaries, amounting to Rs. 2.8 crores. While his is a clear case of embezzlement / misappropriation of Govt. money, which is a criminal offence.” says Kapur.

The post of CFOI is very sensitive because it keeps a check and vigil on the violations by the pilots and airlines. How can CMD, Air India and DG, DGCA ignore such obvious crime of Chandra? Why are they not following the rule book?

Meanwhile, some officials of Air India, on the condition of anonymity, have told Kalchakra that Capt. Chandra, through his contacts with the top bureaucracy and union ministers, has somehow ensured that his current tenure as CFOI is extended for 5 more years, which ends on 30th June, 2020.

Considering the safety of civilians, VVIPs and paramilitary forces, the PMO should immediately intervene to ensure that Capt. Atul Chandra is suspended and thorough investigation is done without any pulls and pressures. Obviously in such circumstances Chandra cannot be given further extension as CFOI. Trusting the claims repeatedly made by PM Modi that his government has “zero tolerance for corruption”, one would expect immediate action in this matter.