Fake pilots scam: DGCA official, three others arrested
26 Mar 2011
The Delhi police today arrested four persons, including a senior official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a pilot, in connection with the fake pilots scam, where people bribed their way to obtaining licences to fly commercial jets.
The arrested official, Pradeep Kumar, worked as an additional director with the DGCA. He was involved in forging exam marksheets and other documents to appoint ineligible pilots.
Among the other three arrested include a pilot identified as Pradeep Tyagi and two touts who were helping Kumar. One of the touts has been identified as Lalit Jain.
It appears that Kumar used to get huge sums of money for fudging mark-sheets so that candidates could obtain commercial pilot licences (CPLs). Kumar is the first top DGCA official to have been booked for the racket.
With the fresh arrests, a total number of 10 people have been taken into custody in connection with the racket. The DGCA had grounded 14 pilots on suspicion that they faked qualifications.
The crime branch of the Delhi police is believed to be on the lookout for nine other suspects. More arrests could be made in Mumbai, according to reports.