The Tehelka investigation into the fraudulent issuance of
The Tehelka investigation into the fraudulent issuance of aviation licences and logging of flying hours began with a tour of flying clubs near Delhi. Tehelka special correspondent Kumar Baadal posed as Rajesh Sharma, someone who wanted to procure a pilot’s licence for Abhishek Sharma. Tehelka reporter Aman Khanna posed as the pilot aspirant, an NRI from Canada. He was asked to speak with a heavy Canadian accent in the meetings. An employee of the Karnal Flying Club said Captain S.S. Kang, the chief flying instructor of Northern India Flying Club in Patiala, could help us and gave us Captain Kang’s number. After rehearsing the Canadian accent, Kumar and Aman decided to get in touch with Captain Kang at Patiala. The interface between the two and Kang was filmed on spycams. On November 22, 2003, we checked into the hotel suggested by Kang. An hour later, he came to the hotel. Kang: This is a big problem at our place… Tehelka: Hmmm…okay..what… Kang: CM belongs to this place…of and on he comes…and he comes by air… Tehelka: And you have to make the arrangement… Kang: Yes I have to make… Tehelka: Landing and all… Kang: All that… Tehelka: Today he is coming… Kang: Hmmm..Hmmm…and before that we have to check the runway…and then check the firefighting equipment and all…till he leaves… Tehelka: He belongs to a royal family… Kang: Yeah...he belongs to a royal family… Tehelka: Sir, lets not waste time… Kang: Bataiye…what can I do for you… Tehelka: He… Kang: No..don’t worry about that… I’m a very hard person…nothing happens…I’ve met with many many accidents in the air…I was saved out of the aircraft…these hardly things you know…hardly matters… Tehelka: (to pilot aspirant) Okay, let me introduce him he is the Chief… Kang: I’m the chief flying instructor…one of the senior persons in Indian aviation…most of the people….they know…so I’m the person…I’ve been teaching for the last 32 years…I’ve been teaching gliding…you know gliding…the air… Aspirant: I know… Kang: I’m an approved examiner of Government of India for that…approved examiner for all licences…upto ALTP…airlines and all…all licences that are issued and are ruled…by the Government of India…I’m the only living person now after…who has maximum flying experience through out the country…anywhere…I’ve been to all… Tehelka: You can be called another Flying Sikh… Kang: Nahin…nahin..this is only because once you are here…you should know…I’ve met with many accidents…the aircraft was all fire but I escaped…because of god… Tehelka: He is your guide and… Kang: Now…what is your qualification… Tehelka: I’ve already told him… Aspirant: Could you please explain what is the criteria… Kang: Yeah…and openly we are discussing everything… Tehelka: Everything should be in an open manner and take it as if this is a final meeting…now the action starts here… Kang: Yes..yes action is… Aspirant: I’ll just explain. After competing my MBA from Bangalore…I went to Canada…British Columbia..I was thinking Kang: You want to have CPL (commercial pilot’s licence)… Aspirant: Yeah… Kang: No…we will give you some of the flying time…but since you want to get the CPL…there are three types of licences…One is student pilot licence…that is issued by the Government of India…then there is PPL…Private Pilot Licence… there also it is there, here also we give… PPL we call it Private Pilot Licence…that is issued after 60 hours of flying by passing two papers…the examination… Tehelka: Theory papers… Kang: Theory papers…but SPL (student pilot’s licence) I’m the examiner for that… Aspirant: Is everything… Kang: It’s own examination of the institute…whatever mark I send that is done…but for CPL you have to appear in a written examination conducted by DGCA…but for that you’ll have to come to India…because without that…it is not possible…you have to come here…you have to go through the book…but you need a coach…There are people in Delhi…they have their coaching centres…then after that it comes…the Commercial Pilot Licence…Commercial pilot licence is issued after four papers…it’s a combination of four papers…written and a flying of 250 hours…for that you need studies…you can directly also study for commercial pilot licence…you can cut short two papers…straight to the… Tehelka: That will be taken care of… Kang: Now… Tehelka: He will get that SPL and… Kang: Yes…We can only get you a SPL in the shortest time… Tehelka: What about CPL… Kang: CPL…that after passing the… Tehelka: Theory papers.. Kang: Theory papers… Kang tells about someone else sitting for the theory papers on behalf of the aspirant, which he will arrange. Kang: That you’ll have to…you’ll have to remain there… Aspirant: In Delhi… Kang: No…in India…then only you can…and you have to… Tehelka: This is regarding the theory papers…he’s telling that can be done from Delhi… talk to him about the flying hours… Kang: Flying hours… Tehelka: What is the requirement… Kang: Requirement is 250 hours… Aspirant: How much time will that take… Kang: It should take…if you…in case you want only flying hours…then theory part for CPL you have to…clear…but I will tell you one thing…in that also I will try my best…in your place somebody else appears in the exam… Aspirant: Hmmm… Tehelka: In that case…you have to bear the expense… Kang: And…because…that boy will only appear on behalf of you…that is he will undergo medical examination…and he will pass theory paper…licence…it’s not that difficult…but…you know for everything you have to tie up with the Delhi people…the whole thing is…in that…the photograph of that person will continue…till…but that portion like the racket…you know passport racket is still going on…passport racket is something you know…it’s very tricky thing…you know they paste it…but here I have not brought pilot licence otherwise I would have showed you…it’s a card type of licence…a commercial licence…card type… Tehelka: It’s like driving licence? Here Captain Kang tells about the modus operandi of getting the licence through fraud. He even demonstrates the procedure by holding the hotel room service menu. Kang: No..it is…three-four pages…and the front…first page a photograph is there…that’s all… Tehelka: How does that thing happen…if the photograph… Kang: That first you know the page will be removed…fresh page will be pasted there… Tehelka: But how can you… Kang: No…no..no…it is like… Tehelka: Won’t the paper… Kang: No…no it is the same…I’ll show you…it is a book like this (picks up the menu)…this is the outer page…it’s a cardboard like…same type…and on this another page is there…same kind…another one…then another one…then third one…like this…there are…one minute… so, it is a book like this…and it is not punched …it is not pasted anywhere…there are two holes here and there is a thread in that…it is that…so what is going to be done is…this will be removed (removes the middle part, the doorbell rings at this moment)… Tehelka: Come in (the waiter has arrived with the order) …and the photo there… Kang: Here will be your photograph…remaining everything will be your…but this total page will be retyped…by those people only…it is only typewritten…not even like the book…but it will be done there only…that office (DGCA) people will only do everything…but that will be the last stage… Kang: But in India…in India you know the examinations…in foreign countries is different time…every 15 days you can appear in the examination…but here you can’t…first of all you require SPL…student pilot licence…that is a must…that will be issued by us…your medical…who is the doctor…they are from the same area…no…surely one place…Karnal… Aspirant: I’m not…I could… Kang: You can just get it anytime… Aspirant: Anytime… Tehelka: So now he is saying he will take care…but you’ll have to… Kang: Yes…that medical…you can also appear…or I’ll send anybody to appear in that…medical…no…no…you’re not required… Tehelka: But you have to understand… Here Kang tells how he will arrange for the exam of commercial pilot licence since the aspirant has little time for that. Kang: Now the thing is…because why we are doing this…because you don’t have the time to…be in India…otherwise it takes time…now for examination of commercial pilot licence…that we have every three months… Tehelka: Every…? Kang: Three months…and for that we will not be putting…as a centre…Delhi as a centre…no…centre will be outside Delhi…like it may be here…it may be Bombay… Tehelka: But does he have to… Kang: No…no…somebody else will appear… Tehelka: Ok…that also…you are doing Kang: Oh…yes we are doing…so…it will be done… Tehelka: And… Kang: A licence will be issued… Tehelka: From the DGCA? Kang: From the DGCA… Tehelka: That would be authentic… Kang: That would be a licence…proper licence…number will be there…everything…the only thing is the person who will be issuing the licence…he will be removing this page (points towards the middle page) Tehelka: Who is issuing… Kang: Yes…yes the same person…he will remove this page and put another page…with his photograph (points at the candidate) Tehelka: The DGCA man who is issuing the licence…he will do it or… Kang: He will… Tehelka:… he will send the licence and you will do it… Kang: No…no…he will hand over the licence… Tehelka: He will remove the page and paste that… Kang: Yes…yes…he will do everything… Tehelka: Ok… Here Captain Kang admits that it is a racket and everything can be managed through money. He also tells us that he can try to get the licence directly from the DGCA. Kang: Now in India… Tehelka: He will have to pay that guy or you… Kang: See total thing is…it’s a…it’s a racket…in India I will call it… everything can be tackled with money… we have got a…you know… price…otherwise the system is…you take admission…stay here…fly down… Tehelka: Yeah…you have to handle…stay here for that period of time… Kang: Everything…will be…taken care of…it’s a test next month…I cannot do it here…I cannot decide anything…I will have to go to Delhi…consult the concerned persons… Tehelka: Ok… which test? Kang: We will…we might be able to… you know… contact…contact that person who is issuing the licence…I can tell him if its possible he will issue a licence straight away… Tehelka: If that happens…then he can…he can take the licence and go this time only…that…but what is the guarantee whether that will be authentic or not? Kang: That is all guaranteed…that can be verified anytime…by yourself…you can anytime…this boy is from Canada…he is going there… Tehelka: If they give him the licence from the DGCA office…then it’s… half the job is done…in the sense that… Kang: No…the total job is done… Tehelka: It will look authentic… Kang: Look no…it will be original licence… Tehelka: No…no…you didn’t get…what I’m trying to say…for his assurance…if he is being handed the licence inside the DGCA by the concerned person who is in charge of the licencing… Kang: No…licence comes to us by post… Tehelka: Okay… Kang: We’ll get the licence by post… Tehelka: No…no you told me na…you’ll be talking to that guy… Kang: Yes…no…that can also be done… Tehelka: Tell him to hand him the… Kang: Yes…yes.. Tehelka: License inside the DGCA office…and if he wants to get some verification done… Kang: You start please…(points at the beer) Tehelka: Cheers…see you are having a good day today… Kang: And your admission…flying…whatever you are talking to me…for one it will remain confidential…one…number two…I’m a responsible person…sitting on a responsible chair…but these things are going on…and since…I’m in the field for the last so many years…I know these people…there is no problem in that…now that licence will be authentic licence…you will use…and you can fly… Captain Kang tells us that the rate would be high for such a licence as senior people from the DGCA will be involved. He also tells us that maximum number of flying hours can be logged here. Kang: Now, in case…let me tell you this…the rate will be too high…let me be very clear…because everywhere someone has to cope up…some one has to cope up…and every place will be involved…every place…means…may not even for me…because I’m not doing (it for) myself…I’ll get a licence but only thing I am…I have to vouch it authenticated…because I go every month to that office…I know everything…and I am not going to get the licence from some lower person…no… Tehelka: That he will see for himself… Kang: No…that will be from a big boss…straight… Tehelka: Can you tell him how much… Kang: Of course I can tell…you know we have directors, deputy directors…and assistants…because they are who issue licences… Tehelka: Director for licencing… Kang: Director for licencing…deputy director for licencing…there are many people involved in this…there are many…for about 13 directors…about 45 deputy directors…then…60-70 assistant directors…but there are authorised persons to sign on the licence…give you the licence… Aspirant: So…how much would it cost… Kang: It will cost you…I have nothing…I am because…since you do not know…if you require only the flying hours and the student pilot licence…just to get settled there…in Canada… Aspirant: No…but… Kang: It is a different thing…that is about the…rate is so many no problem…at all… Tehelka: What is that sir…what is… Kang: That you will be given student pilot licence…issued from the…recognised by the DGCA…it will be a Government of India licence… Tehelka: Okay…he will be taking the…he can go after that student pilot licence and not expect the CPL… Kang: CPL is a…that he should get there… Tehelka: Achcha… Kang: If he stays there…he can get the CPL there…he can change admission…we will give him proper admission… he doesn’t (have to) come here…we will put him on the paper straight…will be issued…it will be authenticated…we will give him certificate…so and so and so…in his name… Tehelka: You mean to say that you will issue a certificate like SPL and all… Kang: SPL is also…it’s not…it’s not a certificate…SPL is a licence…licence we will give him…original on your name…with your photograph and… Tehelka: And coaching will be… Kang: And as if you are here…with us…similarly we will issue the licence… Tehelka: Using which he can get the admission in the flying institute there… Kang: There…and then there is a logbook…then there is a logbook…every minute is logged…that as much as you want…you want 10 hours…40 hours…30 hours…40 hours… Tehelka: oh…those hours would be deducted… Kang: Yes that hours…those hours would be counted there… Tehelka: How many…maximum…how many hours you can give… Kang: You can…you can have even 250… Tehelka: Internationally…250 hours… Kang: Yes…no…Canada it is 200 hours… Tehelka: 200 hours…another option you have…you can show 150 hours here and 50 hours there…at the most you’ll have to stay one day here…with you…so that…you can know the… Kang: You can do… Tehelka: Tell him the… Kang: You have got a…have you…have you got any problem of visa and all that… Aspirant: No… Kang: No…you have got a visa? Aspirant: Yes..yes… Tehelka: How many years…five years? Aspirant: Yeah…yeah…initially five years… Tehelka: He went for that software project… Kang: Now…that…I will advice you that way…I will tell you…so that you can spend less… Tehelka: Do you mind if I smoke? Kang: No…no…you spend less and your job is done…authenticated by me only here…nobody can challenge it…you are sending us money…but it will not be commercial…because other people will not be involved in that…Commercial licence is many people will be involved…medical is to be done…then someone…we have to send someone to appear in his examination on your behalf…as Abhishek (the aspirant’s fake name)… Tehelka: Theory papers… Kang: Son of so and so…and so… Tehelka: That is for theory papers? Kang: Theory papers… Tehelka: Five papers are there… Kang: It’s okay na…he has to be there…might fail also…once…where he will appear…then latest in one month…this can be done here…you’ll get your medical…yourself…then medical ho gaya…we will issue the license…when did you come from Canada… Aspirant: I came just 15 days back… Captain Kang tells us that the aspirant will get the flying hours without flying. He also tries to convince us that there won’t be any problem in the future as he’ll be controlling everything. Kang: Fine…no problem…the licence will be issued here…we will issue the licence…you can do both 50-60 hours…100 hours…you can do that…how long you can stay here in India? Aspirant: Maximum another month… Kang: In one month you can do…60-70…hours… Tehelka: He has to do the actual flying… Kang: No…no…no Tehelka: He’ll get that much hours… Kang: Yes…we will give him the logbook…we will put him on paper…everything will be on paper…everything will be in the paper…although there is no one to track us…on that…but we will do it in authentic way… Tehelka: Okay…sir…one thing I would like to ask you…suppose that…in future would there be any problem…suppose…he was asking… Kang: See… Tehelka: I’m asking… Kang: Now…on this…now on this…I’m the…bloody…I’m the person to bear this…because I’ll be doing everything…all the book work…will be done…authenticated… Tehelka: What about his CPL… Kang: That we will do…as long he is here I’ll get his signature on his own licence…he will sign himself… Here Kang tells us that the price for a direct CPL from the DGCA would be very high, that is, Rs 15,00,000. Tehelka: One is that option…second option is…he can arrange for a CPL direct on your behalf…but…here you will be charged more… Kang: It is more…not less than that…it will be Rs 15 lakh plus…not less than that…in any case…because you know…the higher you go…their mouths are big…because…they are doing everything authentic…that is also there… Kang: The second part which I told you…second part…now first of all you let me know… Tehelka: This has been done before…this thing…then what about the risk factors…in those things, which you are telling… Kang: Risk…risk is…suppose an enquiry comes from there…we will cover it up… Tehelka: Second option which you are telling…over-logging… Kang: Jo…that which I’m doing here…then no risk involved… no risk involved at all… Tehelka: It is…it has been done before also… Kang: It is no problem…it is…it’s been done by me… Tehelka: No…what I’m asking… Kang: No…no…there is nobody to check this… Tehelka: No what I’m telling…what I’m asking… Kang: Now…who’s going to check this…number one…here…till there is a complaint…nobody checks…earlier all the records…duplicate copies of our record…flying records…we make a sheet everyday…we make it everyday…it used to go to Delhi…DGCA office…but now it is not done…because they are not giving us any subsidy…though…you know…DGCA is not giving us any subsidy… Tehelka: This is…recognised by the DGCA… Kang: Oh…yes…it is recognised by the Government of Punjab… Government of India… Tehelka: What is the name of the institute… Kang: Northern India Flying Club…it is one of the oldest flying club in the country…established in 1932…at Lahore…from Lahore we shifted to Jalandhar and from Jalandhar we came here…the second part which I’m telling…no risk at all…not even point one percent…if some body makes the complaint…also…let us think…let us go to the negative point… Tehelka: Yeah…yeah…what’s that… Kang: Hundred percent go to the negative…someone tells that…it’s cooked up…but this is the paper…it’s already logged…see…it’s been done… Tehelka: Because…he has been asking me this question…what about… Kang: He is going to check my books…but in my books your name is there already…you signatures are there…your name is there… Aspirant: So how much would be… Kang: I’ll make you to sign… Tehelka: Another thing he wanted to know… Kang: I’ll make you to sign in such a way so that in your absence we can sign it… Tehelka: Another thing he wanted to know…ki…whether you have done it for some other guys also… Kang: Yes… we do it… Tehelka: So…he didn’t want we should be the first time…we should… Aspirant: How much would the second option cost me? Tehelka: I mean… Kang: This would be the…it should be…how many hours you require? Aspirant: That you will be able to answer very soon… Kang: Nahin…that will be on hour basis… Tehelka: That overlogging… Kang: Yes…it would be on hour basis… Tehelka: Basically he has three options…one is you arrange for the medical…you arrange for the theory papers…you arrange for the flying hours…but the condition is…he should be here in India…then he can complete the 250 hours of flying…and then the CPL will be issued to him by the DGCA…second option you have is… Aspirant: It will also be issued by the DGCA… Tehelka: Second option you have is…you can get a direct CPL…from the DGCA…where there won’t be…any…would there be any medical or SPL… Kang: No…somebody else’s will be there…on his behalf… Tehelka: On his behalf… Captain Kang gets up to go to the toilet. He returns and sits on the bed which is not in the frame. Tehelka: And third option is you’ll get a direct this thing…you…you’ll get a…some 150 or 100 hours of flying from here and you go back and…you… complete the rest of the hours in Canada and get a CPL. The meeting is over. Captain Kang leaves the room. We meet Kang again in Delhi at DGCA on January 28, 2004. We didn’t carry equipment. He took us to the Delhi Flying Club and gave us the admission form and the forms for medical and police verification. He asked us to meet him the next day at DGCA at 3.30pm. We reached DGCA at 3.30pm on January 29, 2004 and wait for Kang in our car. After sometime, he comes out of the building and gets into the car. Kang: Big…Licence is to be issued and taken by hand immediate …the clerks are not working only… We give the filled-up forms to Captain Kang. Tehelka: There are four sets… Kang: Give one to me… Tehelka: (to aspirant) Did I give the pen to you…what happened… Kang: His paper did not reach there…I said would be sent by post there…where here now…it will open tomorrow at 11 o’clock…the office will open…then there is aholiday for two days…tomorrow I will send it from there…this form…for the license… Tehelka: For this…okay… Kang: This too is CFI na…I conduct the tests for these… Tehelka: Okay…okay…where is it… Kang: Just ahead at the petrol pump… Tehelka: No…he was saying… Kang: No…how does it matter…whoever it is…there is no problem… Tehelka: He wants to avoid it… Kang: No there nothing fishy there…There isn’t going to be any checking there…no problem…here (points at space in the form)…occupation…whatever you wish to write…there is nothing problematic here…whether employed or… nothing problematic here… Tehelka: Just mention trading… Kang: Yes…yes…write whatever you want to…write business…whether issued any licence… Tehelka: No… Kang: No…object of admission…it’s okay…flight training… Tehelka: Ok… Kang instructs the driver to move to Dilli Haat. We start discussing the further procedure, police verification and medical examination. We discuss about the amount to be paid. Kang tells the driver to stop as he sees his man near a scooter at Dilli Haat. Our car stops. Tehelka: Sir…you need to sign on some page… Kang: No…no…nothing…nothing like that… Tehelka: No… Kang: Here… Tehelka: Yes… Kang: Yes…that I’ll sign… Tehelka: Because without that… Kang: Fill it first…(points to a page in the form) Tehelka: Then…he’ll have to check the number and all…don’t worry he will get it done tomorrow… Kang begins signing the forms. Kang: What’s the date today? Tehelka: It will be put in todays date… Kang: Yes…yes…no problem… Tehelka: Tomorrow…there is no problem…today is what…29…this is the sign? Kang: Yes…(begins fishing for his stamp in his pockets)…exactly…this is the sign… Tehelka: Okay…there we will say this is the sign or… Kang: No…(takes out the stamp and puts it on the form) Tehelka: Okay…you carry the stamp… Hands over the form to me. The ‘signed for’ portion can be seen in the frame. Kang: Stamp is always there with me…one in the institute and one in my pocket… Tehelka: Okay… Kang: You see…it’s a two-line certificate…it’ll be verified there…they have everything ready there… Tehelka: Okay…so after submitting this that has to be taken? Kang: Give this too along… Tehelka: Okay…okay…will you give the other certificate… Kang: Yes…one certificate…nothing adverse… Tehelka: Okay…and medical you’ll get done…okay then…next… Kang: Yes…put a photograpf on the medical form…eight photographs will be required… Tehelka: Okay…you give me the phone number of the doctor na… Kang: Yes…I’ll just give you…over here…shoul I write at the back… We reach the NIFL to meet Captain Kang. We park our car and enquire about Kang at the office. The runway and small aircraft comes in the frame. Someone tells us that he has gone out and will come after some time. We move towards a small fenced area overlooking the runway, where some chairs are kept. The signboards of NIFL and the aircraft come in the frame. A NIFL employee tells us that Captain Kang is coming. His car comes in the frame when it’s parking. Then we proceed to the fenced area and sit on the chair. In between, he talks to his staff and on his mobile as well. We give him the medical certificates issued by the doctors we visited in Karnal. Tehelka: Mr. Kang …these are for training… Kang: These are training aircraft…(takes the packet containing the reports from me)…Hope there was no problem? Tehelka: No…no… Kang: A boy from our side…I told him and he also went…Delhi…to the same doctor… Tehelka: Dr... Kang: Don’t know what…yes… Tehelka: That doctor… Kang: What…he got stuck there…the boy didn’t come for two months…He says…putting ear drops…this…that…he told me… Tehelka: This…he was…he was telling me…no…no…I won’t pursue… Kang: Six to seven thousand will be spent…this …that… Tehelka: Okay have you spoken to him...(with another doctor)? Kang: Yes Tehelka: Nothing…he said that…in fact…we will fix an appointment in the morning…but since you are coming through him…he took at the most one hour…that also half an hour was spent on the ENT specialist and the eye specialist… Kang: Yes…that’s how it is…(all the while going through the papers given by me) Tehelka: And police verification paper is also there… Kang takes time in checking papers. Orders tea. Kang: This doctor is very good…but I’ll still check…I know sometimes some things are missed…if you leave something out then there is a problem… Tehelka: Yes…obviously… Kang: There…the things that come from DGCA …circular and all…(calls for someone) give a chair… Captain Kang has a visitor who joins us. In between he asks us for the aspirant’s original certificate for a day and the photographs. We try to broach the subject, but Captain Kang gives hints not to. He sends the aspirant with an employee for the formalities. Someone from his office gives him the packet containing the aspirant’s medical reports, that is to be sent to the DGCA. He asks me to take it with me and submit it personally to save time. (Later, Kang talks to his DGCA contact on phone about us) Kang: Are you going back to Delhi? Tehelka: Hmmm…hmmm… Kang: (in Punjabi) Then take it with you only…submit it there… Tehelka: You told… Kang: I get it done…get the whole procedure done…A to Z… (Keeps the packet on the table) Tehelka: We wanted to leave early na… Kang: Yes…yes…(instructs someone to make the dossier and asks if the papers are ready) He again starts talking to his guest. In between we have discussion on the aviation industry and all. Someone comes with the aspirant’s file, which is ready by now. Kang: (to the office employee) give a SPL form… He gets it. Then Kang asks the aspirant to fill up one more form. Gives back the file. Tape 7 Captain Kang sees off his guest. We are sitting on the outskirts of the runway. Tehelka: Okay sir… Kang: That thing still… Tehelka: Come to the point… Kang: Get the receipt and all… Tehelka: Yes… Kang: Get a receipt for 50,000… Tehelka: Ok…and how many hours you would be providing…no give him today something…so that he is assured… Kang: No…everything is done…signatures are done…this is going officially…we are starting his flying… Tehelka: No…no…his… give him…SPL you are giving him na… Kang: No…SPL not now…will not get it now… Tehelka: You told me that day…same day… Kang: I’ll tell you…this medical assessment has come na… this medical assessment has come…now the SPL will be made with this… Tehelka: So that is required for CPL… Kang: SPL Tehelka: What the doctor is giving…you cannot… Kang: No…no… Tehelka: On basis of that… Kang: No… Tehelka: Then… Kang: You will get the mwdical submitted tomorrow… Tehelka: You know I’ve told him that you’ll get the SPL… Kang: No SPL… Tehelka: Because you… Kang: We have to get the forms signed… Tehelka: You told me that day that you’ll get the SPL…same day… Kang: No yaar…it doesn’t happen in one day…there is a procedure for that…the procedure is that every fifteenth…before fifteenth we fill up the forms…between fifteenth and twenty first we conduct examination…whether we conduct or not…we fill up that form…that goes here in the office here…we have got a office here…goes and comes back… Tehelka: Which office? Kang: We have got a Civil Aviation office… Tehelka: Ok…DGCA’s… Kang: Haan…chota office hai… (someone comes to talk to him)…who wapas ayega aur uske saath yeh…this is a must… Tehelka: Hmmm…ok…you told me na…same day he’ll give that… Kang: No…I’ll tell you…I’ll get it submitted tomorrow…tomorrow it’ll not even reach upper stage… tomorrow it’ll not even reach upper stage…these will reach there tomorrow…day after…today is…Tuesday… Tehelka: Today is Tuesday… Kang: You will get submitted on wednesday…. Tehelka: Hmmm… Kang: Thursday…Friday I’ll send you to someone…up there…you go…yourself talk to that person…talk to that person…tell you want to get a medical certificate made…he will give you a card…fill that…fax that to me… Tehelka: Okay…then to you… Kang: This the biggest hurdle…medical…that is why I told you na…medical…it takes…ther the doctor also sits… Tehelka: No you said…you would give the SPL …medical only for CPL… Kang: No…no…SPL we will make here…but to make it the procedures have to be followed…it will not be made just like that…SPL are lying only with us… Tehelka: Okay…then tell us about flying hours how soon… Kang: Flying hours take it are done today…the flying is on after the medical… Tehelka: No…he is here today…then… tomorrow he will go… Kang: Let him go… Tehelka: The till when is he… Kang: You… Tehelka: When are you giving us the SPL…and rest of the flying hours… Kang: You are going to Delhi now… Tehelka: Yes…See this what you are saying…I am doing according to that…I’ll get it submitted tomorrow… Kang: Get it submitted tomorrow morning… Tehelka: See from my side…I am doing all this…why I told you… I’ll have something to show to other candidates…and then I can tell them… Kang: No…you know it na…Sharma ji …the thing is that…do you even realise what all is being done for this… Tehelka: Yes…so…that is what I’m telling you na…I’ll have something to show…to the other candidates… Kang: Yes… Tehelka: That yes…I’ve got it done and… Kang: Yes…right now you…this is…the moment it is made…licence is yours…I have to only issue the license… Tehelka: So…when are you giving that…because he is also being restless na… Kang: So tomorrow you…you will not get this before friday…we can issue you the license even on Saturday… Tehelka: You told me…na…that there is one person… Kang: Medical you… Tehelka: There is one person I can meet… Kang: Yes…yes…I’ll give you the letter… Tehelka: Give me the letter…I’ll meet the person…whatever has to be done… Kang: Haan… Tehelka: And… Kang: Main aapko na…I’ll give you letter…(talks to one of his staff)…oh yaar the one in the medical section…what is the name of the guy? Where that CPL order sits… Employee: Something…(says a name)…something like… Kang: …okay…okay…get a piece of paper…what’s the time…hero… Employee: Five past Three… Tehelka: And he is interested in that direct licence thing…he wants to give you advance also because he is telling that he will go back… so that he can go back now… Kang: See Sharma ji I…that is why…that’s why I want to tell him…taki isko pata bhi chale…he should…that’s why I’m sending him…everybody here…it’s all officially being done… Tehelka: Yes…yes Kang: Okay…atleast let him take the SPL from us… Tehelka: Yes…so when are you giving that SPL… Kang: SPL…whichever day the medical assessment happens…we will give the SPL that very day…I now…see the draft is attached… Tehelka: No…you told me…now this will go DGCA…you…in the middle… Kang: No…so medical will go in this…see someone’s is made here…I’m attaching with this…this is not going anywhere…everything…only thing I require…this… Tehelka: That I can fax you from there… Kang: Yes…yes…absolutely Tehelka: Give me a letter…I’ll get this and I’ll fax you that… Kang: I’ll give you a letter… Tehelka: Then when…you’ll give me…earliest you tell me…when you will give me the SPL… Kang: The day…you send me this…just next day… Captain Kang speaks on phone about some landing and all. Kang: Oh…yaar…what’s the FIC number…? Employee: Yes sir… Kang: 352? Employee: How much? Kang: Yes Employee: 482. Kang: Namaskar ji…calling from Patiala sir…right sir thank you…45…Yes sir…sir I’m calling from Patiala…this is regarding Victor Tancore Charlie Seedha Seedha…sir…FIC no. 482…waiting for…(Inaudible due to landing)…X 31…and alpha…okay thank you sir. Kang tells me about how he will be writing flying hours in the aspirant’s name in the official record. Tehelka: Sir, tell me clearly what I have to tell him…because…since he is now… Kang: Now…now…first let me give him the license… Tehelka: Okay…SPL… Kang: SPL…let his be done… Tehelka: And by what day… Kang: Because…what is there it’s everyday…one hour…an hour and 15 minutes…I’ll log the flying for everyday…from today…onwards it has started…simple thing… Tehelka: Okay…he doesn’t need to come…at all na? Kang: (waves indicating no) Tehelka: That’s what I’ve told him… Kang: Okay…and then he should come here with the medical certificate… Tehelka: You are asking me to fax it to you… Kang: Fax it also…and get it here we will sign also…logbook will also be maintained…of flying …whtever five to ten hours of flying will be there we will get all signed…what it is…handover the SPL too…but tell me first that you are coming tomorrow… Tehelka: Nahi…if you can avoid that then get his sign and all…today itself… Kang: That we will get done…you want the SPL or not… Tehelka: Yes…so I’ll come…and collect that… Kang: Okay you come… Tehelka: Because he doesn’t want to… Kang: Okay…no problem…so right now this…what does he do…before going to Canada… Tehelka: He is here only…he is moving around with his partners and all…I told you na…he is into…starting some kind of business…they are going to collect samples and all… Kang: Of what… Tehelka: Woh…handicrafts…some…carpets…that kind of thing… Kang: Okay… We discuss the advance to be paid to Kang for direct licence as well as the flying hours and SPL. Tehelka: Sir…because you told me na…that…we will…get that direct licence so I’ve told him…it’s…Rs 4 lakh…okay…so…he will give you Rs 50,000 advance for that… Tehelka: Okay…and…give him…tell him when he will get that… Kang: I’ll tell him. Tehelka: And I only request you to be very precise about the date… Kang: Okay… Tehelka: Whatever date you tell him…and how many… maximum flying hours you could give him by February 20. (An aircraft comes in the frame) That also you tell him. Kang: (pointing towards the aircraft) This is a fantastic business…each hour this aircraft is earning…the owner will get Rs 1,000…Rs 1,100…each hour… Tehelka: And how much you are charging the students… Kang: We are charging thirty seven twenty two…(his mobile rings and he talks on phone) Tehelka: Okay he is about to come now…let’s discuss… Kang: One you get it’s receipt…has he got the money…or it’s with you? Tehelka: I’ve got the money…I’ll give it before him…so that… Kang: Yes…yes…we will get receipt cut for 50,000…You give to me…to me…you will have to give this much time at least…at least…this…I must issue the SPL at least…at least… Tehelka: So you issue the SPL… Kang: Yes…SPL I’ll…when you get this made fax it to me…fax is on the same number…2212467… Tehelka: That phone of yours is out of order…I was calling up today…it’s only jumping…okay…or else you do it like this…you do it the same day then I’ll get it the same day and take it away too… Kang: That’s what I’m saying…what else am I saying… Tehelka: No…you are saying…you will send it to DGCA … Kang: Nothing is to be done there…the result for this will go today itself…this has been made…(calls for someone) I’ll get it made right in front of you… Tehelka: I’ll get it along…you’ve given the SPL…okay…so till February 20th maximum how many hours will you give? Kang: After giving you the SPL I will…to you…I will give you the full detail…this much time will be required…in doing that thing… Tehelka: Okay…meanwhile this direct licence… Kang: Haan…(tells his office staff) make that result… Employee: Result is nto too good… Kang: You are making the letter at the back…(talks further something)… Tehelka: Meanwhile get him that direct licence…because this process will be on and…he can go back happily… Kang: Yes…yes…That’s what I’m telling you… Tehelka: Which he can use…then it’s ok…otherwise…this thing is on… Kang: What can we do…in that…it’s absolutely okay…that’s why I wanted to clarify na…if that is used then it’s okay…otherwise what can we do… Tehelka: That’s up to him na… Kang: That’s up to him… Tehelka: And by that time…he will…you will get him the licence from the official channel here… Kang: Absolutely… It’s going on in the official channels… Tehelka: Because he doesn’t want to come again and again…you know…whatever you want him to do…you do it today only…(again talks to someone from his office) okay when…when will you get him that… Kang: I…after the SPL…first lets issue the SPL… Tehelka: No…direct… Kang: That’s what I am saying… after the SPL is done…after issuing his SPL I will go to Delhi…two days I will be there…then you be with me…I’ll stay with you…or you stay with me…undersatbd the process in front of you… Tehelka: Okay… Kang: We will call the guy there itself… Tehelka: You know why I am telling this…is I’ll be free from this case also…and I can show it to my other candidates…and get them here… Kang: Okay… Tehelka: You know…with them…because they are in Bombay…so whenever you want them to be here…they can come…he is going back to Canada so how come he can come… Someone comes to him with a bill book. Tehelka: You give me the letter also for the DGCA guy… Kang: Yes… The aircraft on which the aspirant had gone for a round lands and can be seen on the frame. Tehelka: Sir… give me that letter… Kang starts writing the letter for his DGCA contact who could get us the medical quickly. Meanwhile his staff also comes with the result of the aspirant’s technical examination for flying (he comes with it before the aspirant returns). The result can be seen in the frame. Kang attends more calls on the mobile. We pull out the bundle of notes from the bag. Tehelka: (to aspirant) See…give him money…sit there in the sun na…fifty you are giving for flying hours…and fifty you are giving advance for the direct licence… Kang orders for tea, when he is through with his telephone conversation. Tehelka: Sir…I’m just explaining the thing to him… Kang: I’ll just finish this letter… He finishes the letter. Then he explains me how to meet the person at DGCA, New Delhi. Kang: Whenever you go to DGCA…this you can submit anytime…tomorrow morning you can submit it… Tehelka: Hmmm…ok…how do I go in… Kang: I’ll just tell you that…I’m telling you that…whenever you have to go…go at 2.30…afternoon…2.30…3…go to the window…tell him that you want to speak to (names an official)…he’ll put you through…tell him that you are my friend… Tehelka: Captain…captain…Kang has sent me… Kang: Haan…he has sent me…I have got some job…I want to come up…he will issue…that person will…make the pass for you…and you can go upstairs…when you upstairs…first floor…not the first floor…second floor…there is the licencing section… The aspirant comes into the frame. We give the bundle of Rs 500 notes to the aspirant. Kang asks someone for the DGCA contact’s phone number. He also gives me the letter, which comes in the frame. The aspirant hands over Rs 50,000 to Captain Kang for the flying hours Kang: I’ll talk to him just now… (the DGCA contact) Tehelka: Sir, take the amount… Kang: Give it to me…count it… Tehelka: No…this is…counted… Aspirant: This is… Tehelka: You count…if you want Aspirant: Sealed… Tehelka: Give him…(Kang takes the money) this Rs 50,000 is for flying hours… Kang: We will get it deposited now… Tehelka: And another fifty… Kang: We will give you a receipt for this…now receipt in today’s date will be issued to you…where can I send the receipt? Tehelka: You give it to him na… Kang: Should I give it now… Tehelka: Yes…yes… Kang calls someone and gives the money. Kang: Bobby…take this money…sit and count… Tries for the number of DGCA. Kang: This medical…it will go to him only…This (names the official) …it’ll go to him… Tehelka: So, tomorrow only I’ll go to him… Kang: No…they will not let you go upstairs…will not let you take it along… Tehelka: Okay…tomorrow…where should I deposit it… Kang: Now…now…right now…I’ll ask him…(to aspirant) so you enjoyed the ride…at what height did you go… Aspirant: At what? Kang: Height? Aspirant: Eight thousand… Kang: Eight hundred… Aspirant: You can go upto fourteen thousand… Kang: Oh…yes…(gets the number he is trying)…hello…I’m calling from Patiala madam…can I talk to ___ please…thank you…(talks to some office people) hello…madam ____ se baat karwa dijiye…hello…may I talk to ____ please…hello ____ ji…hello ____ ji…Sir this is Kang from Patiyala…how are you sir…sorry that you were quite busy as someone’s medical file was lost..okay sir here it is…there is this friend of mine..I’ve got his medical done yesterday…and I have to issue him a SPL quickly…hello…hello…sir I’ve got his medical done yesterday from Karnal…medical I took there itself by hand and told him to put it in an envelop and give it…he will submit it tomorrow sir…your…okay sir ji..wherever it is…tomorrow I’ve to tell him that he submits it at the window…That person his name is Rajesh Sharma…after submitting…he will just talk to you…and you give him the time and he will come to you on that day…just get his work done sir…what’s your number…direct number…what…what’s his direct number…no sir extension… what’s his SJ’s number…I have a mobile…okay…thank you sir…thank you… Takes another Rs 50,000 as an advance for getting a direct licence for the aspirant. Phone conversation ends. Starts talking to some other employee in his office. Kang: Now I’ve already spoken to him…you deposit it tomorrow underneath...and speak to him…his number is… Tehelka: write it in the envelope… Kang: You talk from outside…after getting it submitted you talk from outside…so his number is…24622495……tell him… Tehelka: Sir he is giving out fifty… Kang: Okay…I…then you don’t get as to what’s the matter… Tehelka: Sir this Rs 50,000…this is fifty yes…sealed…sealed…so this he is giving you for direct licence…(I hand over the money to the aspirant who in turn hands it over to Captain Kang) Kang: (takes the money) Absolutely okay… Tehelka: You just tell him…how much time…you will take… Kang: No…you…tomorrow we go…after submitting this…you can talk to him in the afternoon…If you are submitting it in the morning you can talk to him around this time tomorrow…4 o’clock…that I’ve submitted it…he will give you the time… Tehelka: Okay…he will give me the instructions… Kang: He will give you the further…that when to come…to collect…ok…he is the person to officially…to deliver medical…but there is one doctor also sits there…government doctor is sitting there…he will open it and write over it…fit…whatever he has to check…then the assessment…this same guy will give you the final letter… Tehelka: So we will be saving time basically…it’s that… Kang: Basically what…total time will be saved…now here there is no time to go…no time to come…nothing… Tehelka: Okay…just explain him what…what… Kang: Medical…your medical will be fit…after medical…you fax the medical to me…I’m sending your SPL examination form 2 just now…see it’s going on back date…(shows us the paper) Tehelka: It’s going on back date 22… Kang: So that… Tehelka: Today is what…today is two… Kang: Today is… Aspirant: Third… Tehelka: Third… Kang: Today is seventh…it is…it’s going in the month…which means that I have already conducted… Tehelka: It’s going 21, January…22, January… Aspirant: Fine… Kang: So that you’ll get licence… Kang: So that…your licence is issued…just as soon as you will get a medical certificate…your licence will be issued…that very moment the SPL will be issued… Tehelka: He’s asked me…there is no need for him to come… SK waves in the negative. Tehelka: You don’t need to come now… Aspirant: I think you know… Tehelka: I’ll…I’ll come…with that medical… Kang: When I come to Delhi where can I meet you? Aspirant: Any time you want… Kang: It’s not like that yaar…you don’t meet me… Tehelka: No…no…for you he will come…whenever you will call him personally…he will come… We start talking about drinks and all.. Tehelka: So after that…SPL…he gets SPL… Aspirant: After SPL… Kang: No…no…procedure after that you will be…your flying will continue…because your money has been reached… Tehelka: This is for the direct… Kang: No…that money…we have given you the receipt…that money will be used… Tehelka: This money…you won’t get any receipt because this is for the direct licence… Kang: Money will be…we will be able to give you…we have got money from you for 15 hours…and by that time I’ll let you know what is to be done next…some more…some more money would be required…to keep it…and simultaneously after issuing the SPL…I’ll come to Delhi…most likely I’ll call that person… Tehelka: Who’ll give the direct licence… Kang: Yes…call the person…so that your needful is done…and he’ll give us the time limit…but this…whatever flying you are doing here…this is a solid planning…whatever is there… Tehelka: There you will…get the direct licence…commercial pilot licence…that would be a commercial pilot licence… Kang: Where ever you will go…this flying will give you…any licence from that country…they will honour it immediately…you have done so many hours…fine… After this, there was some communication gap and Kang was not responding to our phone calls. We started thinking our cover might have been blown and he would have come to know about our real identity. So we kept quiet for some time. We needed at least the SPL and the logbook to substantiate that he had really done something out of turn. When our contacts resumed, Kang asked me to come to NIFL to collect the SPL and the logbook. We went to NIFL, cautious this time as Kang’s behaviour hinted that he had developed some suspicion. Also we told the driver to take the car out of NIFL if someone enquires about us. We had to wait 40 minutes for Kang. He took me to his office. He was very reserved and looked stern this time. He said he would issue the full 250 flying hours only after getting the full payment in advance. We told him to do that we’ll need to consult the aspirant and his parents. We also told him that we would need to show them proof of the work to convince them. Kang was in a bit of a fix now and told me that he’ll give 200 hours from NIFL and the rest 50 hours can be accumulated in Canada. Kang tried to talk to an Indian flying instructor in Canada. This was hinting at the existence of an international network. But Kang couldn’t get through and said he would talk to that person later in the evening. Kang gave me a Student Pilot License issued in the name of Abhishek Khanna and also a NIFL logbook which shows that the aspirant had completed almost 10 flying hours. When we came out, we found the car missing. After looking in vain for the car, we boarded a bus. The car was waiting on the outskirts of Patiala. The driver said that after half an hour or so of our arrival, someone began asking about us. The driver said that all this while the person was looking at the backseat. The driver then told the person that he has to get some repairs done on the car and hurriedly drove away. The driver didn’t realise that due to this the final conversation with Kang was not recorded. Still we had the SPL and the logbook.
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