The Supreme Court has issued notice to the central government and Air India on a petition seeking probe into the "unnecessary" purchase of 111 aircraft for the national carrier costing Rs 67,000 crore to the exchequer.



The apex court bench of Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice C.K. Prasad issued notice on a petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)/special investigation team (SIT) probe into the purchase of aircraft and other decisions causing loss to the exchequer.



CPIL has also sought probe into taking on lease aircraft that again dented the exchequer by "thousands of crores of rupees".



Besides this, CPIL has also prayed for probe into the national carrier leaving profitable routes and timings "for the benefit of private airlines".



A probe has also been sought into Air India giving away its bilateral rights to foreign carriers.



The notice is returnable in four weeks.