AIRASIA DENIES ACCUSATIONS CONCERNING INDIA UNIT
Carrier, Fernandes have not been served with notice to appear before investigators
AIRASIA Group Bhd has denied all accusations and contentions, following allegations concerning its indirect foreign control of AirAsia India Ltd (AAIL).
The low-cost carrier said those accusations were baseless and motivated by considerations that as yet remained unknown.
“AirAsia completely denies these accusations and will vigorously defend itself against these to the fullest extent of law,” according to the company’s filing to Bursa Malaysia.
AirAsia said legal action to protect the airline and its interests against those allegations “would be taken against any person who was known to have maliciously and frivolously instigated, and or smeared the good reputation of individuals and shareholders of AAIL”.
Previously, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation had named AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes as well as other officials and AAIL in its investigations, according to a source.
Fernandes and others were alleged to have bribed Indian officials through middlemen to influence policies, including obtaining a flying permit and approvals to fly internationally.
AirAsia said it noted the allegations made through the media as well as raids by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on AirAsia India office in Bangalore.
“Allegations concerning indirect foreign control of AAIL have been fully investigated and the director general of Civil Aviation had effectively ruled that the operations and management of AAIL were in accordance with Foreign Exchange Management Act as well as foreign direct investment regulations.”
In a separate filing, the airline said neither AirAsia Group nor Fernandes, in his personal capacity, had received any notice of a summons to appear before India’s federal investigators as of yesterday.
It was earlier reported that Fernandes had been asked to appear before the CBI yesterday.
“If and when any such notice is received through formal and official channels, then in accordance with the sovereign laws of Malaysia, we will abide by the due process of the letter of the law,” said AirAsia.
AirAsia said the group and Fernandes would cooperate fully with the respective authorities in India in the investigations.