Claiming that the Indian Government has given it clean chit with regards to allegations of airlines having links with terrorist network, the Jet Airways India in its latest affidavit urged the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to "immediately" approve its application for a foreign air carrier permit.
The Jet Airways India on May 2 application for a foreign air carrier permit under the historic open skies agreement between the two countries has been held up and is being reviewed by the Department of Transportation following allegations by the US-based Jet Airways Inc that the private Indian airline had strong links with global terrorists network including Al-Qaeda and Dawood Ibrahim.
In its latest affidavit filed on June 28, the Jet Airways India Counsel, George U Carneal claimed the Indian Government had closed its investigations, finding there was no merit in such allegations.
"The matter of the fact is that the Indian Government has fully investigated the incorrect allegations stated in the letter and has closed these investigations, finding that allegations lack merit," Corneal said.
The affidavit was referring to one "secret" letter written by a Joint Director level official, Anjan Ghosh, of the Intelligence Bureau to the Union Home Ministry in December 2001, which said IB had confirmed information of intermittent contacts between Naresh Goyal and underworld dons Chhota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim to settle financial issues.
{{/usCountry}}The affidavit was referring to one "secret" letter written by a Joint Director level official, Anjan Ghosh, of the Intelligence Bureau to the Union Home Ministry in December 2001, which said IB had confirmed information of intermittent contacts between Naresh Goyal and underworld dons Chhota Shakeel and Dawood Ibrahim to settle financial issues.
{{/usCountry}}A copy of this letter was produced by the Jet Airways Inc in its last affidavit in support of its allegations against Jet India.
"The letter marked "secret" is a small piece of a complex political puzzle that has long been assembled, disassembled and placed on the shelf by the Indian Government. The objector (Jet US) is trying to mislead the Department by selectively providing only this letter, while failing to furnish subsequent records that reach a very different conclusion about Jet Airways India and its chairman," the affidavit said.
The Jet Airways reiterated that it had never operated international flights without first obtaining necessary approvals from the Indian Government as alleged by Jet US.
"It is significant to note that India's Ministry of Civil Aviation recently allocated traffic rights to Jet Airways for seven flights per week between Mumbai and Newark on May 31, 2005 and it expects endorsement of its operation permit to this effect to follow shortly," the affidavit said.
"It goes without saying that the Government of India would not issue such expanded authority if the objector's (Jet US) far reaching allegations of multi-tiered criminal investigations being conducted at the highest levels of the Government of India were even remotely true," Corneal observed in the affidavit.
Seeks action against Jet Airways Inc
The Jet Airways India in its affidavit has also urged the DOT to initiate action against the Jet Airways Inc.
Claiming that Jet Airways Inc in its affidavit had consistently used remarkably belligerent language, Corneal said it does not appear that it will relent from making disruptive filings containing false and misleading allegations in defiance of the DOT rules, unless the DOT takes firm action.
"First and foremost, the DOT should immediately approve Jet Airways applications," the affidavit urged.
"Separately, in light of the objector's improper conduct, attempts to disrupt and interfere with the fair and orderly disposition of these proceedings, and baseless charges …….the Department should (a) refer these matters to the Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and (b) direct it to cease and desist from violating the Department's rules of conduct," the affidavit said.