The list of 'fake' pilots in the country is growing longer. Abhinav Kaushik, who was flying with Indigo airlines has been arrested in the Capital for allegedly using forged mark sheets to access a flying licence
The list of 'fake' pilots in the country is growing longer. Abhinav Kaushik, who was flying with Indigo airlines has been arrested in the Capital for allegedly using forged mark sheets to access a flying licence.
"Abhinav Kaushik, belonging to private airline Indigo, was apprehended here recently following investigations into a complaint filed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that he forged mark sheets to obtain a licence," confirmed a senior Delhi police official.
Six people have been arrested so far in the 'fake' pilot case. The first to be apprehended were suspended IndiGo pilot Parminder Kaur Gulati on March 8 and JK Verma of Air India four days later.
Two pilots of budget carrier SpiceJet - Anoop Choudhary and Amit Moondrau00a0-- have also been held for allegedly obtaining Commercial Pilot Licence on the basis of forged flying certificates. Sources confirmed that in the wake of the fake pilot scare, licenses of 3,000 to 4,000 pilots are being scrutinised by the DGCA.
Gulati was arrested by police after the DGCA filed a complaint against her, but was later released on bail. She first came under the scanner when she landed a flight on nose wheel in Goa.
Close watch
Meanwhile crime branch of Delhi police has issued a lookout notice against flying instructor Deepak Atslar, pilots Bhupinder Singh, Syed Habib Ali and Swarn Singh Talwar. Habib and Swarn were reportedly working with Indigo airlines. Sources said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is likely to take over the probe.
The Crime branch has found the family of Bhupinder Sing settled abroad, so there are suspicions that he may be trying to or may already have fled the country.
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