Ravi Rishi moves court against copter permit cancellation

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the response of the ministry of home affairs and DGCA on a plea by businessman Ravi Rishi challenging cancellation of chopper license to his company Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sought the response of the ministry of home affairs and DGCA on a plea by businessman Ravi Rishi challenging cancellation of chopper license to his company Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd.

The government had recently withdrawn its security clearance leading to DGCA scraping the company's permit to operate its fleet of choppers.

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The court also asked the MHA to place before it the original files of the aviation firm by the next date of hearing.

Vectra group is the largest shareholder in Tatra Holdings owning the Czech truck manufacturer Tatra and is facing CBI probe for allegedly supplying trucks at exorbitant price to the Indian Army.

Both the home ministry and DGCA are to file their responses by May 15.

Appearing for GVHL, senior counsel NK Kaul submitted that the government has failed to establish the basis on which the decision was taken in the name of security.

He said the CBI probe against Ravi Rishi, who is one of the directors of the company and has three percent stake in it, cannot be the basis for blacklisting a company, which has been supplying the choppers for various purposes in the country since 1998.

DGCA's counsel Anjana Gosai said once the MHA withdraws the security clearance, the DGCA is bound to withdraw the permit to operate the helicopters.

With a fleet of 23 choppers, GVHL has various oil companies among it clients and caters to their onshore and offshore services. It also caters to tourist travels in northeast India.

The firm also operates flights to major shrines such as Vaishno Devi and Amarnath.

Vectra Group is engaged in aviation, heavy engineering, real estate, information and technology and security systems.