SC to hear petition against Jet Airways chief on Oct 26

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on October 26 a petition alleging that Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal has links with the underworld.

An appeal filed by M Furquan, a Delhi-based journalist, has alleged that funds for Jet Airways was given by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. He has also sought a CBI inquiry into the matter.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to adjourn the matter by a week from the listed date of October 26 when Jet counsel Ankur Chawla mentioned that senior counsel Harish Salve was not available. Salve had appeared for Jet in Bombay High Court on the same matter.

The bench directed that the matter be listed as per the given date after petitioner's counsel opposed the adjournment.

Chawla argued the petitioner had not submitted documents related to Home Ministry's clearance to Goyal regarding his alleged connection with the underworld. He said Furquan also did not submit documents relating to the approval given by US aviation authorities to Jet Airways for flying to America.

Furquan has challenged the Bombay High Court judgement that dismissed its public interest litigation alleging that Goyal had links with underworld dons Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel and this nexus could jeopardize national security.

He alleged that Goyal had illegally received investment from Dawood and used it to buy assets for the carrier.

Opposing the PIL before the High Court, Jet Airways had denied sources of funding for the acquisition of Air Sahara were 'legitimate' and the allegations that its chairman Naresh Goyal has underworld links were 'false'.

Regarding the money for acquisition for Air Sahara, Jet had submitted that it had used its internal funds, including those raised through its IPO in 2005.