ED seeks production warrant of corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar in fresh case

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday approached Delhi's Patiala House Court seeking production warrant of corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar in connection with the purchase of 43 aircraft by Indian Airlines in 2005.

Talwar, who was extradited to India from Dubai along with the businessman Rajeev Saxena on January 30, is currently in judicial custody in a money laundering case.

The investigative agency, which suspects his involvement in irregular seat-sharing on Air India's profitable routes with some prominent international airlines, has urged the court to issue a production warrant against Talwar as custodial interrogation is a must to reach a logical conclusion.

The court is scheduled to hear the matter on Friday.

Delhi's Patiala House Court on February 14 sent Talwar to 14-day long judicial custody in connection with allegedly violating the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

During the hearing, the ED had alleged that Talwar was involved in cases related to corporate lobbying. He was extradited to India in cases involving alleged routing and misuse of Rs 90 crore.

Talwar is the main accused who allegedly facilitated dispersal of profit making routes of Air India to private airlines using his contacts.

In February 2010, the then UPA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had inked a contract to buy 12 AgustaWestland AW101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) for Rs 3,600-crore to carry the country's VVIPs like prime minister and president.

However, the entire process to procure VVIP choppers got mired in controversy in February 2013 when the government put the decision on hold following the news that AgustaWestland had allegedly bribed middlemen to secure the deal with the IAF.