CBI arrests Delhi journalist over ‘dubious’ transactions

Besides Rai, CBI books Air One Aviation official, others

AN GOVT OFFICIAL MINISTRY SAID BOTH ED AND CBI HAVE BEEN INQUIRING INTO RAI’S ACTIVITIES

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday said it has arrested Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai on charges of entering into a criminal conspiracy to get an Airport Entry Pass (AEP) which would gain him access to airports around the country and indulging in “dubious” transactions.

Rai has been feuding with senior Enforcement Directorate (ED) official Rajeshwar Singh, who is lead investigator in Aircelmaxis case. Rai had filed an intervention application (IA) in the Supreme Court against ED official Rajeshwar Singh, leveling charges of corruption against him.

Singh has twice filed petitions in the court alleging interference by Rai in probes conducted by him. The first such petition was filed in 2011. The top court granted protection to Singh in this regard and the petitions are still pending in the top court.

When contacted, Rajeshwar Singh refused comment saying whatever happened is a matter of public record. Rai’s late evening arrest came after he was questioned for almost the entire day on Thursday. CBI spokesman Abhishek Dayal confirmed Rai’s arrest. Earlier, CBI said in a statement that following the registration of a case against Rai, the agency’s investigators conducted searches at eight places in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Mumbai. Besides Rai, CBI named airline company Air One Aviation, its chief security officer Prasun Roy and unknown officials of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) as accused in the FIR.

AEPS are issued on the recommendation of BCAS . Rai showed himself as director (quality control) of Air One Aviation to get the permanent AEP. A civil aviation ministry official said both ED and CBI have been inquiring into Rai’s activities. “ED too had sent a letter to BCAS seeking details of Airport Entry Pass issued to Rai in the last week of March this year,” said the official who asked not to be identified.

The civil aviation ministry official said in the first week of April, Upendra Rai wrote to BCAS saying that CBI officials have launched ‘witchhunt’ against him since he has filed an IA against Rajeshwar Singh.

Rai has worked with media companies Sahara News and Tehelka and now introduces himself as founder and chairman of Teammate Foundation and chairman and Editor-in-chief of The Printlines Media Group, according to a document seen by HT. In the FIR, a copy of which has been seen by HT, CBI also alleged that there were dubious transactions in Rai’s accounts which received ~79 crore of which ~78.51 crore was withdrawn.

“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 ~6.5 crore from Sahara India in one year,” the FIR alleged.

HT could not reach Rai’s lawyers. There was no response on the two mobile numbers listed by Rai on his letter to BCAS.