In a curious turn of events, suspended senior DGCA official A.K. Sharan was reinstated as joint director general of civil aviation (JDGCA) on Wednesday, after approval by the civil aviation ministry, well-placed ministry sources have confirmed.
The government had, in March this year, ordered the suspension of Mr Sharan for allegedly causing loss to the state exchequer by granting undue concessions to 28 flying schools a few years ago. The action had been ordered then by the ministry after the Central Vigilance Commission said a loss of `190 crores had been caused to the state exchequer. The grant of concessions reportedly dated back to 2005 when Mr Sharan was the deputy DGCA. Mr Sharan had dismissed the allegations against him as false and baseless. When he was suspended, Mr Sharan was holding the same designation of joint director general of civil aviation to which he has now been reinstated. Mr Sharan resumed charge of the post on Wednesday.
Interestingly, a fresh inquiry on the allegations against him will now be carried out by the chief vigilance officer of the civil aviation ministry.
Sources said that Mr Sharan was reinstated after the ministry took the view that he cannot tamper with any material evidence in the matter. “If any merit is found in allegations against him, action will then be taken. But he has now been reinstated,” sources said.
Ironically, civil aviation ministry official sources had stated just a few days ago that the ministry had recommended initiation of “major penalty proceedings” against Mr Sharan, following allegations of undue favours shown to a private company to open a flying school in Raipur a few years ago as well as alleged undue favour shown in helping his daughter train at the same flying school to obtain a commercial pilots licence. The ministry had made the recommendation to the CVC. Mr Sharan had dismissed those allegations too as false and baseless.