MUMBAI— The Mumbai Police registered a case this week against a former Air India (AI) pilot who allegedly drew salary and allowances from both Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) while serving on deputation. Air India was a government-owned airline during the period in question
The complaint, submitted by retired Air India employee Vyakant Rao, alleges that the former pilot wrongfully collected nearly Rs 2.8 crore during his tenure as a DGCA official. DGCA regulations explicitly prohibit dual remuneration for deputed officers to avoid any conflict of interest.
Salary Fraud Allegations
According to investigators, the allegations pertain to the years 2014 to 2017, when the former pilot served as the Chief Flight Operations Inspector (CFOI) with DGCA, reported Times of India.
Officers on deputation are required to take salary exclusively from the DGCA, but the FIR claims the pilot continued receiving monthly payments from his parent airline.
Police stated that this resulted in substantial wrongful financial gain, estimated at nearly Rs 2.8 crore.
The FIR, lodged on the court’s instructions, invokes sections of the Indian Penal Code relating to cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, criminal breach of trust by a public servant, and using forged documents as genuine. Investigators said further scrutiny of salary records and deputation documents is underway.
Case Background
Rao initially approached the court after raising the complaint at various administrative levels, claiming that no action was taken despite earlier reports on the matter.
His complaint highlighted that dual payments violate DGCA protocols established to ensure independence and transparency in regulatory functions. The case was first reported in 2019, but formal registration of the FIR has taken place only now.
When contacted, the former Air India pilot said he had no knowledge of an FIR being filed.
Police officials confirmed that notice procedures and document verifications will follow as part of the investigation.
Authorities are also examining whether internal oversight mechanisms failed to detect the duplicate salary withdrawals at the time.
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Ongoing Investigation
The case has now moved into the evidence-collection phase, during which police will analyse salary transfers, deputation papers, and communication records between Air India and DGCA.
Officials said that statements from both organisations will be recorded to clarify how payments were processed simultaneously.
Depending on the findings, further charges or departmental references may be added. The incident has drawn attention to the broader issue of regulatory integrity, especially in cases where airline personnel serve in oversight roles.
Experts note that DGCA deputations are designed to prevent conflicts of interest, and any violation of salary rules undermines the credibility of the system. The outcome of this investigation may prompt a review of existing monitoring procedures.
Bottom Line
Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against a former Air India pilot accused of drawing dual salaries worth nearly Rs 2.8 crore while serving as CFOI at the DGCA between 2014 and 2017.
The case, filed after a court directive, raises questions about compliance, oversight, and transparency within deputation frameworks.
As the investigation progresses, authorities will determine whether procedural lapses or deliberate misconduct led to the alleged financial irregularities.
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