ED may investigate AirAsia case; Venkataramanan denies any wrongdoing

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) details of the case of alleged corruption filed against top executives of AirAsia, according to ED sources.

“We will analyse the case registered by the CBI to see if a fresh case has to be filed by us or what further action we can take,” said an ED official. The CBI on Tuesday named AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and Tata Trusts’ R Venkataramanan for allegedly trying to subvert aviation laws for their joint venture AirAsia India by bribing government officials.

The ED is already probing corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, the middleman named in the CBI FIR, in a case of alleged money laundering and had raided several premises linked with him a week ago.

Both AirAsia and Venkataramanan have denied the charges, saying the accusations were made with mala fide intention and will be defended in court.

ED slaps Rs 1k-cr Fema notice on NRI businessman Thampi over land deal

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to NRI businessman C C Thampi for alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to the tune of Rs 1000 crore.

Earlier, the ED had booked Thampi under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with alleged wrongful approval for an engineering college in Thrissur by All India Council for Technical Education in 2009.

Thampi is the chairman of Holiday Group whose businesses extend across India and UAE.

According to the ED's earlier revelations, Thampi was accused of buying huge tracts of land via Foreign Direct Investment.

Following that there was also a look-out circular issued against him, after which Thampi had approached the Kerala High Court with a plea to revoke the circular.
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AgustaWestland VVIP choppers: ED seeks extradition of arrested middleman

Wanted European middleman Carlos Gerosa has been apprehended by authorities in Italy on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal case.

The central probe agency, official sources said, will soon move for his extradition to India through diplomatic channels.

"Gerosa has been held in Italy few days back on the basis of an Interpol notice activated by the ED last year. The global police has informed the agency of his detention and an extradition request is being moved," a senior official privy to the probe said.

The official said Gerosa was held when he was coming from Switzerland to Italy.

A joint team of the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is now working on this case, the official said.

Gerosa, 70, is one of the three alleged middlemen wanted in this case and his interrogation and statement is very important for both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI who are probing the case.
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