CBI Books Former DGCA Official Over Alleged Favouritism, Suspicious Aircraft Deals

The CBI has registered a case against former Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official Captain Anil Gill and several aviation-related companies over allegations of abuse of official position, regulatory favouritism and suspicious aircraft transactions, officials said.

The FIR, registered on Friday, names Gill, Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt Ltd, Redbird Aviation Academy Pvt Ltd, Sabres Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd and Sandhills Aviation IFSC Pvt Ltd, along with unidentified public servants and private individuals. No immediate response was available from Gill or the companies named in the case.

According to the FIR, the investigation uncovered a “systematic network of corporate entities” allegedly controlled by Gill’s immediate and extended family members. Bluethroat Aero Global was incorporated in 2016 with Gill’s mother and maternal aunt as directors, while his cousin and sister-in-law later joined the company.

The CBI alleged that Gill, while serving as DGCA director of flying training, colluded with the companies and extended undue official favours to select flying training organisations, allegedly causing financial loss to competing operators.

The FIR further alleged that training aircraft were procured at nominal prices through benami or shell entities linked to Gill’s relatives and later leased to favoured flight schools at high rates, generating illicit financial benefits.

Bluethroat Aero Global allegedly bought a Cessna aircraft for Rs 10 lakh in 2020 and another for Rs 37.5 lakh in 2021. The latter, despite being operational with only 123 engine hours, was valued at an estimated Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Both aircraft were subsequently leased to Redbird Aviation Academy under approvals granted by Gill.

Between 2021 and October 2023, Bluethroat reportedly earned more than Rs 2.16 crore in lease rentals from Redbird, the FIR alleged. The CBI also cited alleged irregularities in Redbird’s regulatory approvals and the appointment of Gill’s cousin, Vikas Nain, as deputy chief flying instructor.

Nain was later employed by Redbird at a monthly salary of about Rs 6.5 lakh. The case followed a complaint received on August 17, based on a preliminary inquiry initiated in April 2025 after a complaint by Captain J S Dhillon. The CBI said the allegations prima facie disclose offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC.