The BRICS TimesInvestigators say the accused created duplicate assets, inflated values, and altered records to conceal fraud.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) manager for allegedly diverting around ₹232 crore of public money into his personal bank account.
The arrest followed a complaint from AAI, prompting the agency to register an FIR.
According to CBI, the accused, identified as Rahul Vijay, headed the finance and accounts division at Dehradun Airport between 2019 and 2023 and is currently posted at Jaipur Airport in the same role. Recent searches at his Jaipur office and residence yielded incriminating materials, including property documents and securities.
Investigators allege that Vijay exploited his position as an authorised signatory to AAI’s bank account by manipulating digital records. He allegedly created fictitious and duplicate assets, inflated figures by adding extra zeros, and misrepresented financial data to bypass regular scrutiny.
The complaint filed by ChandraKanth P, Senior Manager, Finance Department, AAI, claims the fraud came to light during a review of Dehradun Airport’s asset records from 2019–2023. Anomalies in capitalisation figures triggered a deeper probe, leading to the discovery of fabricated entries and suspicious transfers.
The enquiry revealed that Vijay allegedly generated three user IDs for AAI’s official bank account, gradually transferring small amounts before moving larger sums to avoid detection. He is accused of creating false assets worth about ₹189 crore and funneling the corresponding funds to his personal accounts.
In one instance, investigators found that on September 29, 2021, genuine assets of ₹67.81 crore were recorded for terminal building electrical works. The very next day, Vijay allegedly fabricated 17 additional assets worth ₹189 crore by duplicating and inflating entries, which were then transferred to his account. CBI also found that about ₹43 crore was misappropriated through false expenditure charges.
The agency stated that preliminary analysis shows the siphoned funds were later funneled into trading accounts, pointing to systematic embezzlement of public money.
