After 22-year trial, court convicts defunct airline, two accused

MUMBAI: In a judgment that took 22 years during which four accused died, including deputy managing director of the defunct East West Airlines Shiabuddin A Wahid, a special CBI court on Tuesday convicted two accused - director Faizal A Wahid and Vijaya Bank officer Jayanand Shetty - and the airline for conspiring and making false representations and inducing Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to part with aviation turbine fuel worth over Rs 1.7 crore in 1996, reports Rebecca Samervel.

The sentences against Faizal and Shetty were suspended after they submitted that they wanted to file appeals. Two other accused - Jacob Devassy, then vice-president (finance), East West Travel & Trade Links Ltd (company th-at owned the airlines), and Biji Wahid - were acquitted due to lack of "substantial evidence".

Through the conspiracy IOCL was assured that the original demand drafts (DDs) will be furnished. But after faxing them, the DDs were cancelled. By then IOCL had already parted with the fuel.

While Faizal was sentenced to six months' rigorous imprisonment (RI), Shetty, a public servant, was given a minimum sentence of one-year RI under the Prevention of Corruption Act.