CBI books ex-DGCA director Capt. Anil Gill in corruption, conspiracy case
Synopsis
The CBI has booked ex-DGCA Director of Flying Training Capt. Anil Gill, alleging he used shell companies run by his own relatives to buy training aircraft cheap and lease them back to a favoured flying school at inflated rates — while fast-tracking that school's regulatory approvals in as little as 34 days versus four to six months for rivals.
Key Takeaways
The CBI registered a case against Capt.
Anil Gill , former Director of Flying Training at DGCA , on 21 August under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC Section 120B.
Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt.
Ltd. (BAGPL) , incorporated in 2016 with Gill's relatives as directors, allegedly acquired two Cessna aircraft for ₹10 lakh and ₹37.5 lakh and leased them to Redbird Aviation Academy .
BAGPL allegedly earned over ₹2.16 crore in lease rentals from Redbird Aviation Academy between 2021 and October 2023 .
Redbird Aviation Academy received FTO approval in one month and three days , compared to four to six months for competing entities.
Gill allegedly chaired a committee in September 2022 that appointed his cousin Vikas Nain as Deputy Chief Flying Instructor, who was later employed at Redbird at roughly ₹6.5 lakh per month .
Also named in the FIR: Sabres Corporate Solutions Pvt.
Ltd. and Sandhills Aviation IFSC Pvt.
Ltd. , both allegedly linked to Gill's relatives.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Capt. Anil Gill, former Director of Flying Training (DFT) at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with several companies and individuals, in connection with alleged corruption and criminal conspiracy. The FIR, registered on 21 August, names multiple aviation-linked entities allegedly controlled by Gill's relatives as co-accused.
The Charges and Legal Basis
The CBI registered the regular case under Sections 11 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to criminal conspiracy. A preliminary enquiry had been initiated on 7 April 2025 following a complaint alleging that Gill abused his official position to extend undue favours to select Flying Training Organisations (FTOs), causing pecuniary loss to competing operators.
Shell Entities and Aircraft Deals at the Centre of Allegations
According to the FIR, Gill allegedly facilitated the procurement of training aircraft at nominal prices through benami or shell entities allegedly managed by close relatives, which were then leased to favoured FTOs at higher rates. Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt. Ltd. (BAGPL), incorporated in 2016, counted Gill's mother and maternal aunt among its founding directors, with his cousin and sister-in-law joining subsequently.
BAGPL allegedly acquired two Cessna aircraft for ₹10 lakh and ₹37.5 lakh respectively, which were then leased to Redbird Aviation Academy Pvt. Ltd. under approvals allegedly granted by Gill in his regulatory capacity. Between 2021 and October 2023, BAGPL reportedly generated more than ₹2.16 crore in lease rentals from Redbird Aviation Academy alone, according to the FIR.
Regulatory Favouritism Alleged in FTO Approvals
The FIR also flags a stark disparity in approval timelines. Redbird Aviation Academy reportedly received its initial FTO approval within one month and three days, while competing entities allegedly waited four to six months for similar clearances. Officials have cited this as evidence of regulatory favouritism during Gill's tenure.
The FIR further states that Gill chaired a selection committee in September 2022 that appointed his cousin Vikas Nain as Deputy Chief Flying Instructor — a role that led to Nain's subsequent employment at Redbird Aviation Academy at a monthly salary of approximately ₹6.5 lakh.
Other Entities Named in the FIR
Two additional companies — Sabres Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and Sandhills Aviation IFSC Pvt. Ltd. — were incorporated with Gill's relatives as directors, according to the FIR. Suspicious financial transactions allegedly involving these entities were also detected. Gill reportedly failed to disclose the involvement and employment of his close relatives in aviation-related activities, as required under service conduct rules.
The CBI FIR formally names Capt. Anil Gill, Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt. Ltd., Redbird Aviation Academy Pvt. Ltd., Sabres Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Sandhills Aviation IFSC Pvt. Ltd., and other unknown public servants and private persons as accused, officials confirmed.
What Happens Next
With the regular case now registered, the CBI is expected to proceed with searches, asset tracing, and formal questioning of the accused. The case adds to a broader pattern of regulatory scrutiny within India's civil aviation sector, where oversight of flying training organisations has come under increasing examination. How swiftly the agency moves to file a chargesheet will be closely watched by the aviation industry.
Point of View
The conflict-of-interest firewall has effectively collapsed. The DGCA has faced repeated criticism for opacity in its approval processes; this FIR, if it leads to a chargesheet, could force a systemic review of how regulatory roles are ring-fenced from commercial aviation interests. The speed disparity in approvals — 34 days for a favoured academy versus months for others — is the kind of detail that should prompt the civil aviation ministry to audit all FTO clearances from Gill's tenure, not just the ones named in this case.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Capt. Anil Gill and why has the CBI booked him?
Capt. Anil Gill is a former Director of Flying Training at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The CBI has booked him for allegedly abusing his official position to extend undue regulatory favours to select Flying Training Organisations and to benefit shell companies linked to his relatives, causing loss to competing operators.
What are the specific charges in the CBI FIR against Capt. Anil Gill?
The FIR, registered on 21 August, invokes Sections 11 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018) and Section 120B of the IPC for criminal conspiracy. The charges relate to alleged corruption, regulatory favouritism, and undisclosed financial dealings through relatives' companies.
What is Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt. Ltd. and what role does it play in the case?
Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt. Ltd. (BAGPL) is a company incorporated in 2016 with Gill's mother and maternal aunt as founding directors. According to the FIR, it allegedly acquired two Cessna aircraft at nominal prices and leased them to Redbird Aviation Academy under approvals granted by Gill, generating over ₹2.16 crore in lease rentals between 2021 and October 2023.
Which companies have been named as accused in the CBI FIR?
The FIR names Capt. Anil Gill, Bluethroat Aero Global Pvt. Ltd., Redbird Aviation Academy Pvt. Ltd., Sabres Corporate Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Sandhills Aviation IFSC Pvt. Ltd., and other unknown public servants and private persons as accused.
What is the significance of the approval timeline disparity mentioned in the FIR?
The FIR alleges that Redbird Aviation Academy received its initial FTO approval in just one month and three days, while other competing organisations reportedly waited four to six months for similar clearances. This disparity is cited as evidence of regulatory favouritism by Gill during his tenure as Director of Flying Training.
