DGCA Bribery Case: CBI Arrests Officials Over Aircraft Certification Graft

CBI Arrests DGCA Official in Tamil Nadu Graft Case

On October 4, 2026, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Sushil Kumar Garg, a Deputy Director (Airworthiness) at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) based in Chennai, along with Sachin Keshav Bhane, the director of a private aviation firm. The arrests occurred in Tamil Nadu following allegations of a bribery scheme intended to manipulate regulatory approvals [1].

The Alleged Scheme: Airworthiness Certification

The core of the investigation centers on the airworthiness certification of aircraft. In the aviation industry, this certification is a critical safety requirement that ensures an aircraft is fit for flight. The CBI alleges that Garg demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh from Sachin Keshav Bhane to provide "undue favour" in certifying aircraft operated by M/s Ekvi Air Training Organisation Pvt. Ltd. [2].

Ekvi Air Training Organisation is a facility that prepares aspirants for commercial pilot licences. According to company records, their fleet consists of seven aircraft, including models like the Cessna 152, Cessna 172, DA42, and Tecnam P2006T [1]. The compromise of certification processes for training aircraft poses a significant risk to student pilots and overall aviation safety.

A Pattern of Regulatory Corruption

This incident is not an isolated case of bribery within the DGCA. It follows a similar high-profile arrest on April 18, 2026, involving Mudavath Devula, the Deputy Director General at the DGCA's Airworthiness Directorate. In that instance, Devula and a corporate executive, Bharat Mathur, were arrested for an alleged Rs 2.5 lakh bribe linked to the approval of drone imports [2].

The April case was particularly extensive, with CBI searches in Delhi leading to the seizure of Rs 37 lakh in cash, as well as gold and silver coins. The recurrence of similar bribe amounts and the focus on the Airworthiness Directorate suggest a systemic vulnerability in how India's aviation regulator handles certifications and imports.

Implications for Aviation Safety in India

The repeated occurrence of bribery in the DGCA's airworthiness wing raises serious questions about the integrity of safety oversight. When certifications are influenced by illegal gratification rather than strict technical audits, the safety of the national airspace is potentially compromised. These arrests highlight the urgent need for digitized, transparent certification processes to remove the discretionary power of individual officials, which often becomes a catalyst for corruption.