The highest Airbus chief in the emergency service: a contract with Indian Airlines for 8,000 rupees

Law Enforcement Directorate sent notifications to seven individuals, including a senior Airbus executive, accusing them of money laundering in a transaction of Rs 8,000 crores provide 43 aircraft to Indian Airlines, formerly public, in 2005.

On October 16, Kiran Rao, Executive Vice President of Airbus, was notified by the government's economic intelligence branch under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act, said one person having direct knowledge of the file.

"All seven accused would be interviewed by ED," said the person quoted above. "We understand that some of the accused are currently not present in India, but will have to travel to New Delhi in the next month."

The lawyers and legal advisers of some of the accused organized interrogations, said the person.

In 2013, the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) had initiated an investigation into alleged improprieties relating to the order for 43 A320 family aircraft and had interviewed seven senior officers of the former Indian Airlines, which had merged with Air India, also owned by the state, in 2007.

The charges included corruption and favored French society over its rivals.

Rao, former president of Airbus India, had been named as one of the co-defendants in the case. In 2014, CBI staff members even went to London to interview him, reported at the time AND. However, the main investigative body had not made any allegations of bribes or money laundering against Rao. Airbus did not respond to the detailed questions sent by ET on Friday night.

AND had reported that CBI had sent officials to examine Rao in the context of the case, as clarification was needed on alleged non-compliance with the terms of the supply agreement.

At the time, Justin Dubon, Global Information Manager at Airbus, told PTI: "Airbus is cooperating in the investigation and can not say more for the moment."

Allegations of money laundering could cause problems for both Airbus and Rao, experts said. The DE might consider attaching Rao's properties in India.

AND could not confirm if the process had been initiated. People under ED investigation could also see their financial transactions and real estate transactions reviewed and beneficiaries surveyed.

Rao, a native of Bengaluru, a well-known figure in the international aviation industry, was to replace John Leahy as Airbus sales manager early last year, but that was not the case, according to a Reuters report.

According to the statement, Airbus was looking for a sales manager after Leahy's retirement, while "the aerospace industry group is looking to get out of the hustle and bustle after investigations of the company. use of intermediaries ".