[ By Bobby Anthony ]The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to AirAsia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes on January 20, as part of its ongoing investigation against the low cost international airline headquartered in Malaysia.The ED summons has been issued to the entire top brass of the airline, both past and present, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act...
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to AirAsia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes on January 20, as part of its ongoing investigation against the low cost international airline headquartered in Malaysia.
The ED summons has been issued to the entire top brass of the airline, both past and present, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED summons against Fernandes has come more than a year after both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched their respective investigation into alleged financial irregularities as well as criminal misconduct when the airline was in the process of lobbying to obtain a license for its Indian operations.
It may be recalled that in May 2018, the ED had filed a case of money laundering against AirAsia officials and others for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get international license for its Indian venture called AirAsia India Limited.
Later, in June 2018, the ED widened its probe into the AirAsia money laundering case after collecting documents from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry related to foreign direct investment (FDI) clearances given to the airline.
The ED had pressed charges under the PMLA to probe the trail of funds allegedly used to create illegal assets, after the CBI registered a case against the airline and Toney Fernandes.
The CBI had also searched offices of AirAsia India and filed a complaint against Fernandes for allegedly lobbying the government for overseas flight permits as well as violating rules which prevent foreign airlines from controlling Indian operators.
The alleged violations occurred from 2013 to 2016, before the government eased restrictions on Indian airlines starting overseas flights in June 2016, according to the CBI’s first information report (FIR).