Deepak Talwar’s information may open Pandora’s box

New Delhi: Even as the Delhi High Court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a plea challenging the detention of high profile ‘corporate lobbyist’ Deepak Talwar, information gathered during his questioning in custody is expected to open a Pandora’s box, exposing close links between bureaucrats, politicians, big business, media and middlemen that has the prospect of triggering seismic jolts in Lutyen’s Delhi. Soon after his arrest — his lawyer Mukul Rohatgi told the court earlier, “Government of India abducted my client” — the ED said that Talwar, who had been brought in from Dubai along with Rajeev Saxena, was required to be questioned in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case and the manner in which national carrier Air India gave up profit-making routes to benefit domestic and foreign private airlines.

Talwar’s return to India after over 20 months in Dubai, has turned the needle of suspicion towards a number of bureaucrats, politicians and journalists, mainly those connected with civil aviation. These include Ministry of Civil Aviation officials, officials of the National Aviation Company of India Ltd and Air India, who favoured foreign airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates and Air Arabia. The key person in the negotiations is said to be the then Minister for Civil Aviation. There are reports that Talwar was handed a hefty sum every month by a key airline operator to identify officials and media persons who could be compromised and help its cause. (IANS)

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