M A I N   N E W S

2 more arrests in fake pilot scam
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 6
In yet another breakthrough in the fake pilot scam, the Delhi police has arrested two more DGCA officials for allegedly pushing the files of ineligible pilots for licence approval.

According to the crime branch of the Delhi Police, the accused, Maha Jyoti Bhattacharya and Mohammad Ansari, were arrested for helping Hiren Nagar, a pilot, and Eknath Patil, a tout, procure commercial pilot licence.

Nagar and Patil were arrested from Ahmedabad on April 4 following the arrest of Abhinav Kaushik on last Friday from Gurgaon. Kaushik had allegedly obtained the licence by submitting forged marksheets to the DGCA. The arrests came following investigations into a complaint filed by the DGCA.

According to the police, Kaushik had come in contact with Nagar as both of them had undergone training in a flying school based in Madhya Pradesh.

In 2009, Kaushik again came in contact with Nagar who told him he could arrange fake marksheet and commercial pilot licence on payment of Rs 7.5 lakh. Nagar allegedly took Rs 1.5 lakh and told him that Patil will contact him and he should give him Rs 6 lakh and all the documents.

Till now, five pilots have been arrested by the Delhi Police while two others have been apprehended by Rajasthan Police in Jaipur in connection with the racket.