HC relief for two ex-Jet pilots in graft case

Mumbai: In a relief to two former Jet Airways pilots, now working for Qatar Airways, Bombay High Court on Friday stayed criminal proceedings against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly bribing a public servant to get their provident fund released. The pilots said they believed that he was a consultant, not a public servant, and had paid his fees via a bank transfer.
Senior counsel Haresh Jagtiani for the pilots sought the HC’s intervention to stay proceedings before the special court after they received a summons in the bribery case filed by the CBI against them and one Machindra Bamne.Jagtiani contended that the pilot duo, Ashish Hingarh and Rishiraj Chawla, had applied for the release of their PF dues. After a few attempts, in Nov 2019, a "friend'' gave them Bamne's number as a “consultant’’ of EPFO. They were unaware that he was a public servant, said Jagtiani. —Swati Deshpande