The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday suspended its director over corruption allegations.
“There is zero tolerance for malpractices. Any such issue will always be dealt with the strictest measures by the law," Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said.
The ministry's decision to suspend DGCA director Captain Anil Gill comes days after the aviation regulator moved the ministry to transfer the case of bribery against him to the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The ministry and DGCA had received an anonymous email levelling allegations against Gill, who was recently reassigned as a director for the aero sports department.
Anil Gill, Director of the Flying and Training Division at the DGCA, allegedly misused his authority to obtain three aircraft as bribes from flying schools.
Additionally, he has also been alleged to have leased these aircraft to other flying schools in exchange for more favourable audit outcomes. On 27 October, Gill was transferred to another division, and a step taken by the DGCA transferred Gill to another division.
In its Wednesday order, DGCA said, "Whereas a disciplinary proceeding against Captain Anil Gill, Director posted in Directorate of Aerosports in DGCA headquarters is contemplated. Now, therefore, the President, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule(1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, hereby places the said Captain Anil Gill posted in the Directorate of Aerosports under suspension with immediate effect."
"It is further ordered that during the period that this order shall remain in force the headquarters of Captain Anil Gill, Director should be New Delhi and the said Captain Anil Gill shall not leave the headquarters without obtaining the previous permission," they added.