Former aviation minister Praful Patel 'dear friend' of lobbyist Deepak Talwar: ED

Former civil aviation minister Praful Patel was a "dear friend" of corporate lobbyist Deepak Talwar, who used his close proximity with ministers and others to get the work done for his clients, as per the charge sheet filed in a Delhi court by the ED, which quizzed the NCP leader Monday.

Patel was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe related to the losses suffered by national carrier Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore aviation scam.

The quizzing came over a month after the ED had filed its final report in connection with an alleged multi-crore aviation scam related to the negotiations to favour foreign private airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates and Air Arabia, causing losses to Air India.

ED claimed in the charge sheet filed on May 1 against Talwar, who has been arrested by the agency and currently is in judicial custody, that he allegedly finalised various communications addressed to Patel on behalf of Emirates and Air Arabia.

According to the final report, Talwar obtained undue favours for the private airlines using his contacts.

"Soft data and other documents seized/retrieved during various searches conducted in the instant investigation pointed towards his (Talwar's) close proximity to senior functionaries in administration, politicians, ministers and other officials.

"Deepak Talwar used his proximity to get the work done for his clients," the agency's Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana told the court.

The court took cognizance of the charge sheet, which also submitted that "the investigation so far from the accused and others reveal that Praful Patel is a dear friend of Deepak Talwar... Talwar used to finalise the communication to be sent to Patel on behalf of entities such as Emirates, Dubai Aerospace Enterprises etc."