No charge sheet yet by CBI in graft case regarding NOC: AAI

A charge sheet was yet to be filed by CBI in an alleged corruption case relating to a NOC given to a builder whose project raised safety issues over Mumbai airport even two years after it began its probe, according to a senior AAI official.
The status of the CBI probe in the case is contained in a note prepared by Airport Authority of India(AAI) Deputy General Manager (Aviation Safety) S Mangala regarding several safety guidelines being allegedly ignored while giving clearance to Chouhan Builders for constructing a building close to Mumbai airport.
The note accessed by PTI was prepared by Mangala as part of AAI's response to a RTI query by Vishwas Bhamburkar about safety issues at Mumbai airport.

"More than two years have passed, but there is no charge sheet filed by the CBI on this issue till date even though my interactions with the CBI enquiry officers showed that they fully understood the gravity of safety issues involved," Mangala said in her note dated April 1, 2015.
The issue related to a No Objection Certificate(NOC) given to a 16-metre high building being constructed in close proximity to the main runway of Santacruz airport in Mumbai.
According to orders issued by AAI, construction of any building taller than 12.22 metres has been prohibited within a distance of 668 metres from the main runway of the Mumbai airport as it could pose a threat to air safety.

But despite objections from DGM (safety), Civil Aviation Ministry allegedly changed its stance and allowed a NOC to be issued for the building.

According to Mangala, the matter was raised with senior officials after which she complained to vigilance department through which CBI took up the probe.
The agency carried out probe in the matter and also questioned officials allegedly involved in giving the NOC to the builders.
According to sources, the role of senior officials of the Ministry had come under scrutiny of CBI for allegedly ignoring the rules while allowing the building in violation of its own guidelines.

They said the building had seriously compromised the security of the runway and hundreds of flights which take off and land at the Mumbai airport.
The agency had started a preliminary enquiry in October 2011 to track alleged corruption in the case.