Alleged payoff of $1 million changes the case against AirAsia

Questioning of the CEO of AirAsia - Mittu Chandilya, by ED regarding the case against AirAsia for violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act for irregularities in various clearances from government, has revealed an alleged payoff of $1 million and money laundering.

The airline was booked in a case by the CBI on Monday following which, the ED filed the airline under a case for PMLA law.

Civil Aviation Ministry officials are under watch for assisting the airline in the alleged payoff.

The CBI FIR states that some of the Civil Aviation  Ministry officials and FIPB have entered into a criminal conspiracy with the director of AirAsia R Venkataramanan and Tony Fernandes, group  CEO of AirAsia.

CBI has also accused R Venkataramanan of lobbying with stakeholders in the government to secure mandatory approvals, some of them through non-transparent means.