Aviation scam: CBI quizzes Praful Patel

New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday questioned former Civil Aviation Minister and senior NCP leader Praful Patel for over six hours, in connection with a UPA-era aviation scam the agency is investigating.

Patel arrived at the CBI headquarters here at around 10:30 am and was deposed by probe officials with regards to several profitable air routes that were awarded to foreign and domestic private airlines, thus causing losses to the national carrier.

The agency had just days ago taken custody of aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar to interrogate him about the same case. He was in judicial custody at the time and was remanded to seven days in CBI custody.

The CBI's action against Talwar came after the Enforcement Directorate, which is investigating money-laundering allegations pertaining to the same case, had filed a chargesheet, alleging that Patel was a close associate of the lobbyist.

The ED has also alleged that foreign airlines such as Emirates, Air Arabia, and Qatar Airways had paid Talwar up to Rs 272 crore in exchange for securing certain profitable air routes for them. See P6