CBI books Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai for accessing sensitive areas with false information

The CBI has booked Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai and chief security officer of a private aviation organisation for allegedly involving in doubtful financial transactions and accessing passes made by Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)by furnishing fake information, officials said on Thursday.

The probe agency searched eight locations in Lucknow, Delhi, Noida and Mumbai, officials added.

The agency in its FIR alleged that going by the value of transactions above Rs one lakh during 2017, Rai’s account got credited by Rs 79 crore while Rs 78.51 crore was debited from it.

"He allegedly purchased a fleet of cars out of the ill-gotten money. It is also learnt that he received Rs 16 crore in a year from shell companies, for bribing and fixing cases in Income Tax department. He also received Rs 6.5 crore from Sahara India in one year," the FIR alleged.

Two persons, Rahul Sharma and Sanjay Snehi, allegedly aided Rai to park the ill-gotten money, the agency said.

It further alleged that Rai in criminal conspiracy with Prasun Roy of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, and others cheated BCAS and Delhi International Airport (DIAL)and got, temporary Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP) by fraud and dishonesty.

Rai got legal rights to access all the airports of the country with highly restricted areas and accessed valuable AEP on the basis of false information, thus jeopardising the national security, the agency said.

As per the FIR, Rai in collaboration with Roy submitted an application falsely showing himself as Director Quality Control of the company, in order to get the All India AEP.

The company sponsored the name of Rai and forwarded the application to BCAS which in turn ‘as party to criminal conspiracy’ issued a permanent AEP in favour of Rai.

It authorised him to access all airports in India, violating the Air Operator Certification Guidelines and Civil Aviation requirements, it alleged.

Rai was unqualified technically and his name was not approved by the DGCA for the post of Director General Quality Control of Air One, the CBI said.        

"The source has further informed us that in his application for issuance of Press Information Bureau card for the year 2018, the journalist had not declared himself as a bonafide employee i.e consultant or director, Quality Control of Air One," it alleged.

Rai also got Rs 1.02 crore from Air One in instalments divided in four parts, the CBI added.