The CBI today arrested a Delhi-based journalist for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting an airport access pass made by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by furnishing false information. The accused was questioned at the agency headquarters along with two others for the entire day before being arrested, officials said.
Prasun Roy, chief security officer of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, was also booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case, they said. The probe agency carried out searches at eight locations in Lucknow, Noida, Delhi and Mumbai, they said. In its FIR, the CBI alleged that the accused received Rs 79 crore and debited Rs 78.51 crore from their accounts in 2017 through high-value transactions exceeding Rs 1 lakh. “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 the Income Tax department. He also received Rs 6.5 crore from Sahara India in one year,” it alleged.

The agency said two persons, Rahul Sharma and Sanjay Snehi, allegedly assisted to park the money. It also alleged that the Journalist in criminal conspiracy with Prasun Roy and others cheated the BCAS and the Delhi International Airport (DIAL) and fraudulently obtained a temporary and later a permanent Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP). 

The AEP authorised him to access airports in violation of the laid down Air Operator Certification Guidelines and Civil Aviation Requirements, the CBI said. It said he was not technically qualified and his name was not approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for the post of the director general of quality control of Air One. “A 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 received Rs 1.02 crore from Air One in four installments, the CBI claimed.