Another pilot arrested for using fake marksheet to get license

Anirudh Kiran Deshpande (23) was arrested yesterday after it was found that he used forged marksheets to convert his Philippines Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) into Indian Commercial Pilot Licence.

The police action came on a complaint filed by the Chief Vigilance Officer at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation here.

"Deshpande obtained his Foreign CPL from Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology, TULSA Okhlama in 2008. After coming to India, he appeared for two papers -- Air Navigation Composite and Air Regulation in July 2009 Session. However he could not clear the Air Navigation Composite paper," Ashok Chand, Deputy Commissioner, Crime and Railways, said.

He reappeared for the paper in October 2009 and January 2010 but in vain and in the meantime he came in contact with one O P Malhotra outside the DGCA office.

"Malhotra assured him that he could help him in clearing the paper and obtaining CPL at the earliest as he had contacts in DGCA. A deal was struck for Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1,80,000 was paid as advance," Chand said.

On Malhotra's advice, Anirudh Kiran Deshpande again appeared in April 2010 session but failed to clear the paper this time as well.

In July 2010, Malhotra called Deshpande and told him that the mark sheet in which he had cleared the Air Navigation Composite paper has been obtained, Chand said.

"The mark sheet alongwith other documents were submitted in the office of DGCA on July 20, 2010 for issue of CPL. However, the fraud was detected by the DGCA while scrutiny of his documents," the police official said.

Deshpande is presently pursuing B E (Computer Science) from Rajasthan Vidyapeeth (Distance Education).

With this, Delhi Police has arrested 24 persons in the case. The last arrest by Delhi Police was made on September three.