Anticipatory bail plea of former GujSAIL CEO Ajay Chauhan rejected

Ahmedabad: The city sessions court has rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by Captain Ajay Chauhan, the former chief executive officer of Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure (Gujsail), in connection with a bribery case lodged against him and two others by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in June.

Claiming innocence, Chauhan, through his lawyer, informed the court that he is currently abroad but had notified the investigating agency prior to his departure, and therefore cannot be considered an absconder. The lawyer further argued that Chauhan had appeared before the investigators three times.

The prosecutor opposed Chauhan’s bail plea, alleging that he misused his position as a government servant by using an aircraft designated for VIP transport for personal use. They claimed that Chauhan transported his family from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on the aircraft, resulting in a loss of ₹72 lakh to the government. During his tenure with Gujsail, he provided services to private companies, earning additional income, and drew ₹2.16 crore as a flying allowance despite receiving a salary from Gujsail.

After hearing both sides, Additional Sessions Judge S.L. Thakkar rejected Chauhan’s anticipatory bail application, noting that it was significant that he left the country while the investigation was ongoing. The court also noted that even though he had appeared before investigators previously, the offense had not been registered at that time.

Chauhan served as the director of civil aviation from April 2004 for 18 years and was appointed CEO of Gujsail in January 2010, holding that position for over 13 years. In 2022, he faced widespread corruption allegations and was removed from his post. DeshGujarat