Former Airbus India Head invokes French law to stall ED probe

MUMBAI: Former Airbus India president Kiran Rao, under investigation over money laundering charges, has invoked the French Blocking Statute, which prevents companies based there from sharing sensitive details with other countries, said people with knowledge of the matter.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had moved court, seeking Rao’s arrest for his alleged role in the Rs 8,000 crore purchase of 43 Airbus planes by state-owned Indian Airlines in 2005 that was negotiated by an empowered group of ministers. The carrier was merged with Air India, also state-owned, in 2007.

Rao has submitted that he’s not an Indian citizen and that he wouldn’t be able to provide any details on the deal due to the statute, said the people cited above.