New Delhi: Former civil aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate for over nine hours on Tuesday, the second day of his questioning, in connection with a money laundering probe related to losses suffered by Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore aviation scam, officials said.
Patel appeared before the agency at its headquarter here in Khan Market around 10 am and left at 7:45 pm.
He was with the investigating officer of the case for over nine hours, including the time spent on lunch and other breaks, officials said.
On Monday, he was questioned by the agency for about eight hours.
The investigating officer of the case recorded Patel's statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) over two days and the former Union cabinet minister of the UPA government is understood to have "cooperated" with the agency.
The Rajya Sabha MP is expected to have more such sessions. The case emerges from a criminal complaint registered by the ED for alleged irregularities in fixing air slots for international airlines that purportedly led to losses for Air India, the national carrier. A case for purchase of 111 aircraft for the national carrier during Patel's tenure is also under probe.
Patel, 62, has also been named in a recent chargesheet filed by the federal agency before a court, as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.
Talwar was arrested by the ED sometime back.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who was in charge of the civil aviation ministry between 2004 and 2011, has not been mentioned as an accused in the case.
The ED has already questioned a number of people in the senior management of the state-owned airline and the aviation ministry.
The ED had said in the chargesheet that "the investigation so far from the accused and others reveal that Patel is a dear friend of Deepak Talwar".
Patel had earlier told the media that "he will be happy to cooperate with the ED for their understanding of the complexities of the aviation sector".
The ED chargesheet in the case named Talwar and claimed that he was in regular touch with Patel. It has alleged that Talwar finalised various communications addressed to Patel on behalf of Emirates and Air Arabia.