Operations permit of Global Vectra Helicorp suspended

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Monday suspended the operations permit of Global Vectra Helicorp, the aviation arm of the Ravi Rishi-led Vectra Group which operates a fleet of choppers, after the home ministry raised security concerns about the firm.

"We have suspended the operating permit of the company," a senior DGCA official told IANS.

The development comes as the government had cancelled the security clearance of the company after the home ministry had raised security concerns about the firm.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the alleged role of the London-based Vectra Group chairman Ravi Rishi in connection with the multi-crore-rupee Tatra deal and the bribery allegations made by the army chief.

"We will also cancel the airport passes given to the employees of the company. We have told Pawan Hans (helicopter company) to fill in the supply gap," Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told reporters outside parliament on Friday.

The company refused to confirm the government decision.

With a fleet of 23 choppers, the company operates onshore and offshore operations for oil companies and also caters to tourist travels in northeast India.

The company operates to major shrines like Vaishno Devi and during the Amarnath Yatra.

Vectra Group of companies is engaged in aviation, heavy engineering, real estate, information and technology and security systems.