The Gujarat Chief Minister’s office has permitted lodging of an FIR against the tainted Captain Ajay Chauhan for his alleged corruption during his tenure as CEO of Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Ltd. (GUJSAIL). The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Gujarat will initiate action against former Captain Ajay Chauhan under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Chauhan was an influential officer within the Gujarat establishment, holding on to the post of Director of Civil Aviation for 18 consecutive years after being appointed in 2004. He also held the position of CEO of GUJSAIL for 13 years, since 2013.
Chauhan was removed from his post as Director of Civil Aviation in February 2023 after his corruption and misuse of his position came to the fore. The likely action to lodge an FIR comes after the report of the inquiry into his misconduct is submitted.
The misdeeds of Chauhan include allowing himself an additional Rs 5 lakh per month as a non-flying allowance during his tenure at GUJSAI. Chauhan categorised the allowance as a helicopter operation cost to subvert the state government’s salary ceiling rule, capping salaries at Rs 2,25,000. .
In blatant misuse of his official position, Chauhan used the government aircraft over 100 times for personal trips with family and friends. The government slapped a recovery notice to Ajay Chauhan demanding to repay Rs 3,27,33,780 as the embezzlement from state exchequer between 2017 to 2023. The inquiry was conducted by IAS officer Nitin Sangwan.
Chauhan is reported to have bought properties worth Rs. 100 crore, some in the names of close relatives. The properties include two luxury flats in Riviera Elegance at Prahladnagar, two large farmhouses at Gandhinagar and Shela, and commercial properties at prime locations on SG Highway and Commerce Chha Rasta, all in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar.
Apart from the above, Chauhan possesses a flat in Noida and large tracts of land in Rajasthan. He also has property in his wife’s name in the United States.
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