Court allows ED to quiz lobbyist Talwar on 43 aircraft purchased by IA from Airbus in 2005

A Delhi court on Friday allowed the ED to question lobbyist Deepak Talwar in Tihar jail in a fresh money laundering case related to the purchase of 43 aircraft by erstwhile Indian Airlines from France's Airbus Industrie in 2005.

Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann allowed the Enforcement Directorate to interrogate Talwar, who is currently in judicial custody in a separate case related to negotiations to allegedly favour foreign private airlines causing losses to national carrier Air India.

In the present case, special public prosecutors D P Singh and Nitesh Rana told the court that Talwar's interrogation was required to unearth the entire criminal conspiracy related to alleged money laundering in relation to the purchase.

Rana told the court, "He (Talwar) received Rs 92 crore from Airbus Industrie in one account and Rs 142 crore in another. He was directly linked with Airbus in these transactions and he was doing his own negotiations."
According to the ED, the case was filed against Indian Airlines officials and other unknown persons, "alleging that the officials, by abusing their official position as public servants in conspiracy with Airbus Industrie, caused undue pecuniary advantage to Airbus Industrie and caused corresponding undue loss to the government exchequer in carrying out the purchase of 43 aircraft by Indian Airlines from Airbus Industrie, France."
Talwar was picked up by Dubai authorities in January in connection with the