CBI files case against AISATS officials over royalty evasions

A day after it asked six international airlines operating in the state capital airport to submit details of charges paid to ground-handling firm AISATS, the agency on Thursday registered a case against its officials for evasion of royalty charges payable to Airport Authority of India.

AISATS, a 50:50 joint venture between Air India Ltd, and leading gateway services and food solutions provider SATS Ltd., has been engaged in ground handling duties at the Thiruvananthapuram airport since 2012.

The Kochi unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation's anti-corruption bureau has registered a case against AISATS vice president Binoy Jacob and finance manager P.K.Anandan.

On Wednesday, CBI officials arrived at Thiruvananthapuram airport and asked six international airlines to submit their statement of accounts of their business transactions with AISATS by April 11.

The CBI started to probe financial dealings between AISATS and Airport Authority of India, ever since whistle blower Air India staff L.S.Sibu, last year wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission saying he suspected foul play in the AISATS' dealings.

The visit by agency officials to the Thiruvananthapuram airport was the third, after two visits last year to verify if there was any substance in the complaint.