Fresh CVC complaint targets DGCA, MCA officials over DFI forgery

The Story in Brief

RTI activist Tejpratap Singh has filed a fresh complaint before the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) alleging corruption and regulatory lapses involving officials of the DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Corporate Affairs in the Drone Federation of India (DFI) forgery case. The CVC forwarded the complaint to the MCA's Chief Vigilance Officer on August 3, according to both sources. The complaint alleges that officials ignored an inspection report that found DFI had submitted a forged no-objection certificate (NOC) to change its name in 2023. The NOC, purportedly signed by then DGCA chief Arun Kumar, had a fake file number and Kumar had been transferred months earlier.

The latest allegations come as the CBI separately probes a bribery case in which DGCA's Deputy Director General Mudavath Devula was arrested for allegedly demanding Rs 5 lakh per drone import application. The CBI recovered Rs 37 lakh in cash, gold and silver coins during searches. Singh's complaint questions why the prosecution in the forgery case did not include charges of cheating or using false evidence.