Newsroom, November 24, 2025: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has launched an inquiry into Atul Chandra, former head of Air India's human resources, following allegations of salary discrepancies and improper payments during his tenure.
A whistleblower complaint, filed with the Central Vigilance Commission, accuses Chandra of approving inflated compensation packages and undeclared perks for senior staff, potentially violating airline governance norms amid its Tata Group transition. Chandra, who left the role in 2024 after a 20-year stint, has denied wrongdoing, calling the claims "baseless attempts to tarnish a legacy of fair practices."
The probe, triggered by anonymous emails detailing executive bonuses exceeding policy caps, could lead to audits of financial records from 2022 onward. Air India officials maintain the matter is under internal review, but the DGCA's involvement signals broader concerns over transparency in aviation leadership.
