CBI Arrests DGCA Official and Aviation Firm Director Over Bribery Allegations

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a senior aviation regulator and a private company director in connection with a corruption case involving a sum of Rs 2.5 lakh.

The Arrests

Sushil Kumar Garg, a Deputy Director of Airworthiness at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation posted in Chennai, was taken into custody after being accused of accepting the illegal payment. Sachin Keshav Bhane, the director of Ekvi Air Training Organisation Private Limited, was also arrested for allegedly paying the bribe to secure official favors.

Investigation Details

According to the anti-corruption agency, the bribe was demanded in exchange for issuing an airworthiness certificate for aircraft operated by the private firm. Officials registered a formal case following intelligence inputs, leading to raids and the subsequent arrests. The agency plans to seek transit remand from the court to transport the accused officer to the national capital for further questioning.

Previous Cases

This incident follows a similar recent corruption probe involving the aviation regulator. In an earlier case, the agency arrested Mudavath Devula, a Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate, along with a corporate executive over a separate Rs 2.5 lakh bribe linked to drone import approvals, during which authorities seized Rs 37 lakh in cash alongside gold and silver coins.

Context

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the primary national body responsible for regulating civil aviation safety, issuing aircraft licenses, and enforcing airworthiness standards across the country. Regulatory positions within such bodies carry substantial oversight responsibilities, making transparency and strict adherence to protocol essential for public safety in the aviation sector.