ED to question 3 AirAsia execs in laundering case

New Delhi: After registering a money laundering case against officials of AirAsia and others for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get international licence for its Indian venture AirAsia India Ltd, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is now preparing to examine three officials of the private airlines in connection with the case.

According to sources the ED will soon send summons to three officials of AirAsia for questioning in connection with the case. After the CBI, the ED recently registered a criminal case of money laundering against AirAsia officials and others for allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means.

The ED pressed sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to probe if alleged tainted funds were used to create illegal assets and it took cognisance of the CBI FIR to lodge its own case. The agency, sources said, will go into the money trail of the accused and the entire deal.

Earlier, the CBI in its FIR had booked Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Tony Fernandes, Tharumalingam Kanagalingam also known as Bo Lingam, former Deputy Group CEO of Malaysia-based Air Asia Berhad, and R Venkataramana, Director Air Asia India Ltd, Bengaluru, besides companies Air Asia India Pvt Ltd and Air Asia Berhad.  CBI case was registered under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.