CBI books ex-Air India GM, Eros officials for duping carrier

The CBI has registered a case against a former general manager of Air India and employees of Eros International Media for allegedly cheating the national carrier to the tune of Rs 1 crore.

"A case has been registered against Anil Kumar Sharma, the then general manager of the in-flight service department, Air India and a few employees of Eros International Media for fraudulently charging Air India for providing short video programmes," a senior CBI official said.

Air India had appointed Eros Multimedia to supply short video programmed for screening in its flights. However, Eros charged Air India for durations much more than the actual duration of the programmes supplied.

"Sharma in connivance with executives of Eros approved the bills raised by the company without verifying them. Apart from charging for extra duration, Eros had also charged Air India for programmes which were already billed and paid," the official said.

Searches were conducted at six places including the offices of Eros in Mumbai and the residential premises of Sharma in Mumbai and Delhi. Incriminating documents and details of the programmes have been seized, he said.

According to CBI officials, Sharma had recently purchased a flat in Defence Colony in Delhi for Rs three crore.

"Investigations are on to find out the source of the money with which he purchased the flat," he added.