FIR filed against SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh; the airline calls it a "bogus complaint"

The troubles for SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh seem to be compounding as another First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against him in Gurugram for allegedly cheating a man by delivering fake share certificates, according to a report by News9.

Complainant Amit Arora alleges that Singh delivered a fake depository instruction slip (DIS) of 10 lakh shares for services provided to him. The police have filed an FIR under Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"His intentions from day one were only to cheat. When you are giving forged share challans, it is a very clear intention to cheat the other person. I would want him to be booked under even further stringent provisions but of course, he is a big man and might get some leeway," said Arora.

FIR filed against SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh; the airline calls it a "bogus complaint"

In his complaint filed with the Sushant Lok Police Station in Gurugram, Arora said that Ajay Singh approached him in 2015 for help with the takeover of SpiceJet.

As the airline was struggling financially with a lot of dues yet pending to other vendors, Singh promised Arora that he would be paid in company shares. Arora said he worked in good faith and delivered his services in helping Singh take over the company.

In October 2016, as payment, Singh allegedly gave Arora a DIS rather than transferring the shares directly. The complainant claimed that when he went to deposit the said slip, he was informed that it was outdated and invalid.

Complainant Amit Arora alleges that Ajay Singh delivered a fake depository instruction slip (DIS) of 10 lakh shares for services provided to him.

Arora's police complaint states that from there onwards began a saga of him reaching out to Singh multiple times and the SpiceJet promoter either evading him or making false promises.

Arora claims he was only able to then meet Singh in May 2019 and at the meeting in Delhi, the SpiceJet promoter sought back the DIS stating that issues were going on with the earlier promoters of the airline, hence he needed the slips back to issue fresh ones.

Finding similarities between the two, the complainant then looked into the allegations against Singh and found that it was similar to his matter as well. Hitting back at the claims by Arora, a SpiceJet spokesperson called the complaint "bogus" and said they would be filing a defamation suit.

"A frivolous, mischievous and completely bogus complaint has been filed by liquor dealer Amit Arora with the Gurugram Police to hurt SpiceJet and Ajay Singh's image. At no point in time was any service sought from him nor did he ever provide any kind of service to the airline. Neither Singh nor any concerned person from SpiceJet has ever met the complainant for any work nor is there any written agreement between them. We are confident that the police investigation will prove the same and the FIR will be quashed. A defamation suit will be filed against the complainant by SpiceJet and Ajay Singh."SpiceJet

There was a delay in further communications due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then in March 2022, Arora got to know of the other cheating case against Singh.

On March 26, 2022, the Delhi High Court stopped short of granting anticipatory bail to Ajay Singh in the alleged cheating case lodged against him. The court ordered the continuation of the interim protection granted to him till September 8, 2022, i.e. the next date of hearing the matter.

In its order, the bench said that Singh had followed its instructions in the previous order and had joined the investigation against him.

On March 26, 2022, the Delhi High Court stopped short of granting anticipatory bail to Ajay Singh in the alleged cheating case lodged against him.

On April 7, the Delhi High Court had directed Singh to keep 25 lakh shares of the airline company as security, which is the cause of the dispute between Singh and two other persons. The businessman was also ordered to submit an undertaking to the effect with the Hauz Khas police station in Delhi.

The bench had further directed Singh to join the investigation in the case whenever called by the investigating agency. The court is hearing a petition filed by Singh seeking anticipatory bail in a cheating case filed against him by Priti, Hena and Chetan Nanda in Delhi.

The allegation against Singh is that he had entered into a share purchase agreement with Delhi-based businessman Sanjiv Nanda where the SpiceJet promoter agreed to transfer 25 lakh shares of the company for INR 25 lakh.

A lower court had earlier dismissed the SpiceJet promoter's anticipatory bail plea saying the grant of anticipatory bail at this stage of the investigation may "frustrate" the investigating agency

The shares were to be split up and delivered in the names of Nanda's wife and son. After transferring the money, Nanda was given a delivery instruction slip, a document used to facilitate and authorise the sale or transfer of shares from one account to another, by Singh.

However, when the Delhi businessman went to deposit the instruction slips, he was told that they were outdated and no transfer had occurred. Thereafter, a cheating case was filed against Singh.

ALSO READ - SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh’s anticipatory bail application denied by the Delhi Sessions Court

A lower court had earlier dismissed the SpiceJet promoter's anticipatory bail plea saying the grant of anticipatory bail at this stage of the investigation may "frustrate" the investigating agency in interrogating the accused, collecting useful information and the materials which might have been concealed.

(With Inputs from News9)

A giant Airbus Beluga cargo plane (A300-608ST) made a brief stopover at Chennai airport on Monday, July 11 for refuelling. This is the first time that the aircraft is touching down at the airport.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) tweeted that "The elegant whale is here and with such awesomeness! The mighty #Beluga No.2 (A300-608ST) landed at Chennai airport for the first time, today. The cargo transporter is a rare visitor in this part of the world and a marvel to behold."

https://twitter.com/aaichnairport/status/1546360619275669504

The aircraft, which is not carrying cargo, is on its way to Thailand, said an AAI official. Known as super transporter, the aircraft is a version of the wide-body A300-600 aircraft of the Airbus and is usually used to carry aircraft or machine parts and huge cargo. The plane will depart at 7 PM.

The Airbus Beluga aircraft is 56.15m-long and has a wingspan of 44.84m. It has a take-off weight of 1,55,000kg. Though its length and wingspan are smaller than the popular B747 freighter which is 70.6m-long and has a wing span of 64.4m.

Beluga planes are designed in the shape of a whale to carry oversized cargo including aircraft parts, machinery and even smaller planes.

Airbus Beluga spotted at Kolkata airport in May after 23 years

ALSO READ - Airbus Beluga spotted at Kolkata airport after 23 years

Earlier in May, Airbus Beluga raised eyebrows and became the talk of the town as it touched down at Kolkata airport.

Carrying two helicopters in its massive cabin that is nearly four times the size of a normal wide-body aircraft, the Beluga took off late on May 22 to fly to Pattaya in Thailand. This was the second time the aircraft had visited Kolkata, the last being 23 years ago in 1999.

Austrian propulsion specialist CycloTech GmbH and Japanese delivery company - Yamato Holdings Co.Ltd. have completed a joint feasibility study on applying a new thrust vectoring propulsion technology, named "CycloRotors", to create a mid-class cargo eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft.

CycloTech

The collaborative study focussed on two innovative elements:

PUPA701 (Pod Unit for Parcel Air-transportation) developed by Yamato"CycloRotors"- an innovative 360° thrust vectoring aviation propulsion system developed by CycloTech

The PUPA701 is part of the PUPA family of detachable and compatible cargo pods to be carried by eVTOL aircraft or other advanced air vehicles. Yamato has reportedly conducted multiple R&D efforts for this concept to realize a cargo eVTOL system that is highly feasible and able to be integrated into existing systems. Its concept is to enable multiple types of pods to be swapped easily to broaden missions and use scenes, as well as to separate loading/unloading sequence from the aircraft’s process cycle to secure the ground crew’s safety and maximize the utility of the aircraft.

CycloRotors are based on the same principle as the Voith-Schneider-Propeller, successfully applied for decades for highly agile and stable ships in the maritime industry. The compact design and direct and instant control of magnitude and direction of thrust offer a natural, stable transition from hover to forward flight and superior manoeuvrability.

An unconventional design

CycloTech

One look at the drone design and just as quickly, the realization kicks in that it is not a conventional drone design. Instead of helicopter-style rotors, ducted fans or any other recognisable system, the electric aircraft features six ‘CycloRotors’ and apparently, this would be the first time the unique characteristics of CycloRotors were used to design a mission-optimized unmanned cargo eVTOL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qkhmz4z1E

One of the most promising features of Cyclorotors as a propulsion system is its low noise profile | CycloRotors

The design features a battery-powered, distributed electric propulsion system configuration with 6 Omni-directional thrust generating CycloRotors ensuring safety in flight and during take-off and landing, as well as stability in crosswinds of up to 36 kt (18 m/s).

According to the joint study conducted, the angle of each of the CycloRotor’s blades can be altered to direct thrust while the rotor structure spins.

The compact design, and direct and instant control of magnitude and direction of thrust, offer a natural, stable transition from hover to forward flight and superior manoeuvrability. The unique characteristics of CycloRotors give vehicle manufacturers unprecedented freedom in designing aircraft and drones A CycloTech and Yamato announcement 

Its compact design of only 2.7 x 2.5 m square footprint offers unobstructed, ergonomic access to the PUPA701 bay. The Pupa701 pod is designed to allow staff on the ground to quickly and safely load packages for delivery. 

CycloTech

All operations can be handled from one side, be it loading and unloading the payload, complete swap of the pod or charging or exchanging batteries. This ensures flexible, fast, safe and ergonomic handling, minimizing hazards to the operator or the vehicle. 

Cyclotech

The design is based on extensive calculations, wind tunnel testing, and the first successful free flight of a prototype demonstrator, which took place in August 2021. 

The drone is touted to deliver advanced aerial logistics capable of carrying a 100lb (45kg) payload over a range of 25 miles (40km). 

Notably, no price tag for the drone nor any dates for its possible entry into the skies has been released yet. 

SOURCE(s)

COVER: CycloTech

In a step to provide direct connectivity to Baba Baidyanath Dham, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the Deoghar Airport today in Jharkhand. The airport has been constructed at an estimated cost of around INR 400 crore and is equipped to handle over five lakh passengers annually.

The 2,500-metre-long runway of the newly-built airport can handle the landing and takeoff of Airbus A320 planes. The 5,130 square feet terminal building and six check-in counters can cater to 200 passengers simultaneously.

Baba Baidyanath Dham is an important religious destination for devotees from all over the country and thousands visit the Hindu pilgrimage site every day. The average footfall increases dramatically during the month of Sawan, believed to be the month of Lord Shiva in Hinduism.

Runway of the newly built Deoghar airport

The Deoghar airport is ready to become operational as two flight run trials have been successful and it is set to become the second international airport in Jharkhand after the Birsa Munda international airport in Ranchi.

Last week, the civil aviation secretary Rajiv Bansal, Airport Authority of India chairman Sanjeev Kumar, Jharkhand chief secretary Sukhdev Singh, state director general of police Neeraj Sinha and other top officers took stock of the completed and ongoing works in the airport premises during the day. 

Additionally, they inspected the terminal building, ATC tower, fire station, power station, approach road, and the runway of Deoghar airport among other facilities.

PM Modi to inaugurate Deoghar Airport on July 12

The airport's design is eco-friendly and it is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. The design of the terminal building is inspired by the spire of the famed Baba Baidyanath temple in the state.

Local tribal art, handicrafts and photographs of local tourist spots are displayed inside the airport which reflects the culture of the region.

With Shravani Mela kicking off next week, the airport will help thousands of devotees coming to Deoghar from across the nation to offer prayers at Baba Baidyanath Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Apart from the airport, Prime Minister Modi will launch and lay the foundation stone of various projects worth INR 16,000 crore in Deoghar. He will also perform Darshan and Pooja at Baba Baidyanath temple and will address the closing ceremony of the Centenary celebrations of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna.

IndiGo to commence Kolkata-Deoghar flight service

IndiGo will start flights between Kolkata and Jharkhand's Deoghar from July 12. The flights will operate four times each week.

IndiGo to commence Kolkata-Deoghar flight service

Aviation regulator DGCA had on June 29 granted an aerodrome licence to the newly-built airport in Jharkhand, allowing it to handle narrow-body aircraft such as A321 and B737.

"These new flights will enhance connectivity and significantly reduce transit time between Kolkata and Deoghar, from 7.5 hours to less than 1.25 hours. The increased access to Deoghar -- home to Baba Baidyanath Temple, Trikuta Parvata, Rama Krishna Mission Vidyapith and Naulakha Mandir -- will also boost religious tourism in the region."Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo

Deoghar airport will be the second airport in the state after Ranchi. Spread in a vast area of 650 acres, the design of the terminal building is inspired by the structure of Baba Baidyanath Temple. Paintings of tribal art, handicrafts, and local tourist sites are showcased in the terminal building. 

The Ministry of Finance has clarified that jet fuel for international flights is exempted from the excise duty recently imposed by the government on petroleum products. This means domestic airlines who are refuelling aircraft for international flights will not have to pay an additional excise duty of 11% on it.

Airlines had earlier sought a clarification from the government on the additional levies which would increase the cost burden on them. Airlines are already reeling under record-high fuel prices.

Confusion arose on whether or not excise duty was leviable on domestic airlines for their foreign flights after the government slapped an INR 6 per litre special additional excise duty on the export of jet fuel from July 1.

Jet fuel for international flights exempted from excise duty

On Friday, July 8, the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance issued a corrigendum wherein it added goods “supplied as fuel to foreign going aircraft” to the list of items exempted from the excise duty.

ALSO READ - Jyotiraditya Scindia requests the finance ministry to rationalise excise on jet fuel

“The much-awaited clarification that the exemption otherwise available on excise duty of 11% for international flights which were wrongly withdrawn is restored,” said a senior airline executive. “The notification of June 30 had left us into the huge anomaly and probable cost rise of 11% on international flights. With this clarification that fear is now set to rest,” he added.

Prices of jet fuel are revised every fortnight, and airlines have been increasing air fares with every fuel price hike.

The government, end of June, imposed additional levies on the export of petroleum products - petrol, diesel and ATF – to curb their exports and increase domestic supply.

The Finance Ministry's clarification that excise duty would not be applicable on domestic carriers for foreign flights brings them back at par with foreign airlines for which the fuel is exempt from duty as per the Chicago convention. 

Private fuel companies including Reliance Industries and Rosneft-owned Nayara Energy had begun to export fuel in large quantities, taking advantage of a global fuel shortage created by the Russia-Ukraine war.

The government, end of June, imposed additional levies on the export of petroleum products - petrol, diesel and ATF – to curb their exports and increase domestic supply.

This had in turn created a crunch in domestic supply with fuel pumps running dry across Indian cities. Now, under the new duty structure, Indian carriers feared that refuelling for international flights would attract an additional excise duty of 11%, according to senior executives at airlines and oil marketing companies.

In absolute terms, this would have translated to an additional charge of INR 12,000-13,000/kilolitre of ATF purchased for international flights. Prices of jet fuel have been soaring.

In June, oil companies hiked prices by 16% to record highs. Prices of jet fuel are revised every fortnight, and airlines have been increasing air fares with every fuel price hike.

GMR Group on Friday, July 8 said its joint venture Angkasa Pura Aviasi has started operating the Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia. Angkasa Pura Aviasi (APA) is a joint venture between GMR Airports Ltd and Indonesia's state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II.

With the project, GMR Airports, a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure, has entered the growing Indonesian aviation market and the project will cover a cooperation period of 25 years, according to a release.

GMR Group's joint venture Angkasa Pura Aviasi has started operating the Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia

The joint venture formally took over the operations of Medan airport in the presence of Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Transportation; Erick Thohir, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises; Edy Rachmayadi, Governor of North Sumatra, and Muhammad Awaluddin - President Director, Angkasa Pura II, the release said. Currently, GMR Group is operating Delhi, and Hyderabad airports as well as the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in the Philippines.

It also recently finished the construction of Clark Airport in the Philippines and is also coming up with a new airport at Crete in Greece.

GMR Airports had bid for the development and operation of Medan airport and the international selection process was conducted by PT Angkasa Pura II to select a strategic partner.

GMR Airports officially took over the operations of Indonesia's Medan airport

ALSO READ - GMR to develop and operate Indonesia’s Medan Airport

In November 2021, GMR Airports was announced as the winning bidder. The Shareholders' Agreement (SHA) and Share Subscription Agreement (SSA) with PT Angkasa Pura II were signed in December 2021.

For the project, GMR had entered into a 49:51 partnership with PT Angkasa Pura II.

"We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to transforming Medan airport into the western international hub of Indonesia and contributing to the overall infrastructure development of the country. Our participation in the project is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Look East' policy and President Jokowi's commitment to developing infrastructure in Indonesia."Srinivas Bommidala, Chairman of Energy & International Airports, GMR Group

GMR Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in New Delhi. The group was founded in 1978 by Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (G M Rao) and comprises several companies including GMR Infrastructure, GMR Energy, GMR Airports, and GMR Enterprises.

Employing the public-private partnership model, the Group has implemented several infrastructure projects in India. The Group also has a global presence with infrastructure operating assets and projects in several countries including Nepal, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Greece.

GMR, the largest private airport operator in Asia and fourth-largest globally, handles over 17.2 crore passengers annually in pre-Covid times.

GMR Group entered the airports' development space in 2003. GMR, the largest private airport operator in Asia and fourth-largest globally, handles over 17.2 crore passengers annually in pre-Covid times.

Its operational airport portfolio includes India’s busiest IGIA in Delhi, Hyderabad and Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu, Philippines. GMR is currently developing three major greenfield airports at Goa, Visakhapatnam and Crete in Greece.