The Enforcement Directorate has summoned UPA era Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, on the 6th of June in the Deepak Talwar illicit aviation deals case. He is also a prominent leader of Congress ally, NCP.

Enforcement Directorate Lawyer: ED summons Praful Patel in the Deepak Talwar illicit aviation deals case, on June 6. pic.twitter.com/l2C3oSG6x2 — ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2019

It was reported in February that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had found dubious deposits alleged to be the kickbacks paid by the international airlines into several accounts of extradited Congress era lobbyist Deepak Talwar. The ED had discovered Rs 270 crores deposited in Bank of Singapore by international airlines and another Rs 88 crore received in his NGO to influence some top ministers and bureaucrats in the previous UPA regime, reported Times of India.

It was also reported that Talwar was being grilled in connection with bribing politicians and senior officials in the UPA era to tweak the rules to benefit certain foreign aircraft manufacturers and airlines.

Reportedly, Airbus has made two transfers of $10.5 million to Talwar controlled companies between August and September 2012, interestingly at the same time when civil aviation ministry under the UPA era had placed orders for the purchase of aircraft. Investigations were initiated into the matter in the US too.

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Talwar is known for his proximity to politicians, journalists, bureaucrats etc, including Praful Patel. Patel was the aviation minister in UPA government and during his term, the Air India had taken the controversial decision to purchase 111 aircraft, which included 43 aircraft from Airbus. Talwar is also under investigation for meeting the CBI director Ranjit Sinha about 63 times in 2014 at Sinha’s official residence. His name had appeared in Nira Radia tapes too.

Rajiv Saxena and Deepak Talwar. two high-profile lobbyists linked to UPA era scams were extradited to India from Dubai on January 31st. Rajiv Saxena is accused in a money laundering case connected with the AgustaWestland deal. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had named him in a supplementary charge sheet filed in the VVIP Chopper scam in September 2017.