Hubbry Logo
Praful PatelPraful PatelMain
Open search
Praful Patel
Community hub
Praful Patel
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Praful Patel
Praful Patel
Praful Patel
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born 17 February 1957) is an Indian politician, industrialist and sports administrator. He is associated with the Nationalist Congress Party.

Key Information

He was the president of India's association football governing body the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from 2009[1] until 2022 when the Committee of Administrators (CoA) took over the interim administration following the appointment by the Supreme Court.[2][3][4][5] He became the Asian Football Confederation's vice president of the SAFF region at the AFC Congress held in Bahrain in 2015.[6] In December 2016, he was appointed the Senior Vice President of the Asian Football Confederation. In 2017, he became a member of a FIFA Finance Committee for a term of four years.[7][8] He also serves as the President of the Western India Football Association, the state football governing body of Maharashtra.[9]

On the 25th anniversary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Party Chief Sharad Pawar appointed Praful Patel and Supriya Sule as working presidents of the Party.[10][11][12]

Early life and education

[edit]

Praful Patel is the son of Indian National Congress politician Manoharbhai Patel, who represented Gondia in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. His father died when Patel was 13. His family is Gujarati and runs the Ceejay Group, a tobacco conglomerate.[13]

Patel attended Mumbai's Campion School, and the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Bombay.

Career

[edit]
Praful Patel assumes the charge of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on 24 May 2004

Political career

[edit]

Patel followed in his father's footsteps in choosing a political career.[14] In 1985, he became the president of the Gondia Municipal Council, and in the 1991 Indian general election was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha. In 1996 and 1998 he was re-elected to the 11th Lok Sabha and 12th Lok Sabha respectively.[15] Patel has served on a number of parliamentary committees, including the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (1991–1996), the Committee on Science and Technology (1994–1995), the Committee on Home Affairs (1995–1996), the Committee on Finance (1996–97), and the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha as a representative of Maharashtra in 2000.[16] He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha for his second term in 2006, and in the 2009 was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha for a fourth term. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra in 2016.[17]

From 2004 to 2011, Patel was served as the Minister of Civil Aviation. In this role, the government increased the foreign direct investment cap in the domestic airlines sector from 40% to 49%.[18][19] On 19 January 2011, Patel was relieved of Civil Aviation portfolio and became the cabinet minister for Minister of the Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.[20][21]

On 9 January 2013, Patel launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 roadmap for introducing electric and hybrid vehicles in India.[22][23][24] Patel launched a project to build the world's largest solar power plant near Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan.[25] The project was planned to generate roughly 4000 MW of power, but following protest from environmental groups, the project site was moved to Kharaghoda in Surendranagar district of Gujarat.[26][27][28]

AIFF President

[edit]

In 2013, Patel placed a bid for India to host the 2015 and 2016 FIFA Club World Cup.[29]

Under Patel, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) introduced the Indian Super League run by the Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd., which aims to make Indian football more competitive at an international level. In April 2014, Patel announced the eight franchise owners in the Indian Super League.

Patel signed agreements with the German Football Association (DFB), the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Japan Football Association (JFA) in 2015 for their support and expertise for the "mutual growth, promotion and continuous emphasis on the development of football."[30]

Patel brought back international friendlies to India, with Mumbai awarded its first international match in 61 years when India hosted Puerto Rico in 2016.[31] Praful has said that India will host more friendly matches in the future.[32]

On 28 March 2016, Patel announced the commencement of a women's league later in 2016.[33][34] In a Special General Body Meeting of the AIFF held in New Delhi, a women's league was introduced in line with Patel's plans to place more emphasis on women's football. On 17 October 2016, the women's football league trial kicked off for the first time in India in the city of Cuttack.[35][36] On 24 January 2017 AIFF President Praful Patel launched the inaugural edition of the Indian Women's League at New Delhi. The league will commence from 28 January with six teams participating in it.[37][38]

On 1 December 2016, Patel was appointed the senior vice president of the Asian Football Confederation.[39] India subsequently won the rights to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 and hosted the AFC U-16 Championship in September 2016. The All India Football Federation has also won the AFC Developing Member Association of the Year Award at the AFC's Annual Awards 2016 held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[40]

On 21 January 2016, Praful Patel was elected unopposed as the AIFF President for the third consecutive term.[41][42]

Patel was removed from his presidency of the AIFF by the Supreme Court and replaced by a Committee of Administrators (CoA) after failing to organise presidential elections despite his third term expiring in December 2020.[43]

Alleged role in AIFF's suspension by FIFA

[edit]

In August 2022, FIFA suspended the All India Football Federation for violating its statutes on third-party interference. India was stripped of its hosting rights for international football tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup scheduled for October 2022.[44] Patel who had stayed in office as the AIFF president despite his third term expiring in December 2020 had been replaced by a Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA). Patel was accused of orchestrating the AIFF's suspension by arranging a letter from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation threatening AIFF with a suspension if he wasn't restored to its presidency.[45] The Supreme Court dissolved the CoA and restored day-to-day management to the AIFF on 22 August.[46] FIFA lifted its suspension of the AIFF on 26 August, and restored the rights to the U-17 Women's World Cup.[47]

Memberships and chairman positions

[edit]

Patel is chairman of the Manoharbhai Patel Charitable Trust, which funds the Manoharbhai Patel Institute of Engineering and Technology, the president of the Gondia Education Society,[48] the Gondwana Club, Nagpur Lions International Club and the Cricket Club of Mumbai.[49]

Elections Contested

[edit]

Lok Sabha

[edit]
Year Constituency Party Votes % Opponent Opponent Party Opponent Votes % Result Margin %
2009 Bhandara–Gondiya NCP 489,814 47.52 Nana Patole Ind 237,899 23.08 Won 251,915 24.44
2014 456,875 38.16 BJP 606,129 50.62 Lost -149,254 -12.46

Rajya Sabha

[edit]
Position Party Constituency From To Tenure
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(1st Term) 		NCP Maharashtra 3 April
2000 		2 April
2006 		5 years, 364 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(2nd Term) 		3 April
2006 		16 May
2009 		3 years, 43 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(3rd Term) 		13 June
2014 		4 July
2016 		2 years, 21 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(4th Term) 		5 July
2016 		4 July
2022 		5 years, 364 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(5th Term) 		5 July
2022 		27 February
2024 		1 year, 237 days
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
(6th Term) 		3 April
2024 		2 April
2030 		5 years, 364 days

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Praful Patel

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Praful Manoharbhai Patel (born 17 February 1957) is an Indian politician, industrialist, and sports administrator affiliated with the (NCP). He has represented constituencies in both the and , serving as a since 1989, with multiple terms including elections at age 33 to the 10th, 11th, and 12th s from Bhandara-Gondia. As Union Minister of Civil from 2004 to 2009, he implemented reforms such as merging with , privatizing management of and airports, and raising limits in from 40% to 49%, earning recognition as CAPA Aviation Minister of the Year in 2005. Patel's career spans business interests in the Ceejay Group, encompassing , pharmaceuticals, and , alongside political roles as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises from 2009 to 2011. In sports administration, he presided over the (AIFF) from 2012 to 2022, during which Indian football faced a suspension in 2022 over issues tied to his extended tenure beyond term limits. Following the 2023 NCP , Patel aligned with the faction, which joined the (NDA), leading to the closure of CBI investigations into alleged corruption during the merger by March 2024, with no wrongdoing found. These developments highlight his influence in politics and national policy, amid criticisms of the merger's long-term impact on the airline's viability. Currently, as National Working President of the NCP ( faction) and MP, Patel continues to shape party dynamics post the 2023 split from Sharad Pawar's group.

Early life and education

Birth, family, and upbringing

Praful Patel was born on February 17, 1957, in , , to Manoharbhai Patel, a self-taught businessman and politician who represented in the , and his third wife, Shantaben Patel. The family maintained strong roots in the of , where Manoharbhai had established business operations. Manoharbhai Patel died in 1970, when Praful was 13 years old, leaving the family to manage its enterprises centered on bidi manufacturing and tobacco trading—industries that provided early, hands-on exposure to commercial operations in a resource-constrained environment. This upbringing in a entrepreneurial household, marked by direct involvement in family-held assets amid personal loss, fostered a practical orientation toward industry, though detailed accounts of his pre-teen childhood remain sparse in public records.

Formal education and early influences

Patel completed his schooling at Campion School in . He then attended Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in , graduating with a degree from the in 1976. This qualification provided essential training in accounting, economics, and commercial principles, directly facilitating his transition into managing family enterprises centered on manufacturing and trade in Maharashtra's . During his student years in , Patel gained initial exposure to the state's burgeoning industrial networks and regional economic dynamics, as the city's commercial hubs offered proximity to trading communities and policy discussions shaping Maharashtra's post-independence growth. This environment, combined with his commerce curriculum emphasizing practical business operations, fostered an orientation toward entrepreneurial ventures over or other fields, laying groundwork for his later industrial expansions without formal political involvement at the time.

Business career

Initial business ventures

Praful Patel, born in , , entered the business world by joining his family's established bidi manufacturing operations at the age of 16 in 1973, shortly after his father's death, which necessitated his early assumption of responsibilities in the labor-intensive tobacco sector. The family enterprise, centered in the region, focused on hand-rolled bidi production—a small-scale industry reliant on local sourcing of tendu leaves and employing thousands of rural workers for rolling and packaging, with initial operations emphasizing regional distribution in . This venture capitalized on 's proximity to tobacco-growing areas, enabling cost-effective supply chains and gradual scaling through family-managed partnerships rather than external capital. After completing a in in 1977, Patel formalized his role in expanding the , incorporating elements of processing and trading to stabilize revenues amid fluctuating agricultural inputs and regulatory constraints on unorganized . By the early 1980s, prior to his political entry in 1985, the operations had grown to sustain diversified family holdings, demonstrating resilience through —such as controlling cooperatives—but remained rooted in small-scale, employment-heavy models typical of Maharashtra's informal industrial clusters, with no evidence of large-scale or debt-financed expansion at this stage. These foundational activities laid the groundwork for the Ceejay Group's later formalization, underscoring Patel's hands-on management of regional supply risks over speculative ventures.

Expansion into industry and key holdings

Following the death of his father in 1970, Praful Patel assumed management of the family-owned Ceejay Group at age 13, initially focusing on its core and bidi manufacturing operations, which had been established decades earlier. By the early , after completing his degree in 1977, Patel expanded the group's industrial footprint beyond traditional processing, incorporating diversification into ancillary sectors to leverage operational synergies and mitigate risks from regulatory pressures on products. This pre-1991 phase, prior to his entry into , saw the group grow into a conglomerate employing approximately 60,000 workers across manufacturing and processing units, with annual revenues reaching around Rs 500 by the mid-2000s, reflecting steady asset accumulation through internal reinvestments rather than . Key expansions included entry into pharmaceuticals and , where Ceejay established production facilities for drug intermediates and flexible packaging materials, capitalizing on the group's existing expertise in derivatives. Healthcare and oils followed, with investments in and distribution units that processed and other oils, contributing to and regional market dominance in . emerged as a holding arm through entities like Ceejay Finance Limited, which managed group liquidity and provided leasing services, while holdings supported industrial infrastructure via land acquisitions for factories and warehouses. These moves, executed through closely held private limited companies, emphasized low-capital-intensity expansions in labor-intensive industries, yielding verifiable job growth without documented reliance on subsidies or preferential deals during this period. The Ceejay Group's primary holdings remain centered on tobacco subsidiaries like Ceejay Tobacco, which dominate bidi production with output exceeding millions of units annually, alongside diversified arms in pharmaceuticals (e.g., units) and (e.g., flexible films for consumer goods). By the late 1980s, investments had materialized into commercial properties, including developments under family-linked firms, though core industrial assets stayed in manufacturing clusters around and . This portfolio structure prioritized empirical scalability, with balance sheets showing consistent profitability from high-volume, low-margin operations, though the segment's dominance drew scrutiny for impacts without offsetting the economic contributions in and rural networks. No aviation-related industrial holdings predated his political involvement.

Political career

Entry into politics and early roles

Praful Patel entered politics at the local level in his hometown of , , where he was elected president of the Municipal Council in 1985. This role marked his initial involvement in public administration, drawing on his family's established political presence—his father, Manoharbhai Patel, had served as a member of the from the constituency under the —and Patel's own business interests in tobacco and cotton processing, which provided networks among agrarian communities in the region. Patel's business acumen and local influence facilitated his transition to higher electoral , culminating in his first parliamentary win in the , when he secured the at age 34 as a candidate, defeating opponents by leveraging voter support from rural and trading constituencies reliant on agricultural . He retained the in subsequent elections in 1996 and 1998, establishing himself as a consistent representative of the area's economic concerns, including development for cotton ginning and industries that underpinned economy. These victories were bolstered by mobilization through family ties and chamber-of-commerce affiliations, reflecting a pragmatic entry rooted in priorities rather than ideological fervor. Prior to the formation of the in 1999, Patel's early career aligned with the , where he focused on constituency-specific issues like projects and for local produce, building a base that emphasized economic pragmatism over national party schisms until Sharad Pawar's departure from prompted his shift. This period solidified his reputation as a bridge between business elites and rural voters in , setting the stage for broader roles without yet venturing into party organizational leadership.

Leadership within the Nationalist Congress Party

Praful Patel rose to prominence within the (NCP) following its formation in 1999, leveraging his organizational acumen and close association with party founder to secure key internal roles. Elected to the from in 2002 for a term ending in 2008, Patel represented the party's interests in national parliamentary debates, focusing on economic and infrastructure policies aligned with NCP's regional priorities. He was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2022, maintaining uninterrupted upper house representation that bolstered his influence in party strategy and coalition bargaining. As a senior strategist, Patel contributed to NCP's navigation of coalition dynamics, particularly during the formation and sustenance of the (UPA) from 2004 onward. He advocated for coalition stability, emphasizing that such arrangements were essential in India's fragmented , and helped secure ministerial allocations for NCP, enhancing the party's leverage despite its limited national footprint. Patel's interventions in parliamentary coordination ensured NCP's support for UPA legislation, drawing on verifiable records of consistent voting alignment until 2014. Patel's internal leadership aided NCP's consolidation in , where the party expanded its rural and base under Pawar's overarching direction. Empirical data from state assembly elections illustrate this: in , NCP captured 71 seats with a vote share exceeding 20% in contested constituencies, enabling governance; by , it held 62 seats amid dynamics that preserved its status as a major player. These gains reflected strategic seat-sharing and mobilization efforts, though critics pointed to over-reliance on family networks as fostering factionalism, evidenced by recurring internal disputes over candidacies and resources that occasionally eroded unified fronts. Despite such challenges, Patel's role in organizational planning helped sustain NCP's empirical strength in , with the party routinely polling 15-20% statewide through the 2010s, per election commission aggregates.

Involvement in the 2023 NCP split and alignment with NDA

In July 2023, Praful Patel aligned with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction during the (NCP) schism, supporting the group's decision to join the BJP-led state government on July 2, claiming the support of over 40 MLAs as evidence of internal majority backing. This move positioned Patel as a key strategist in the faction's pivot toward the (NDA), emphasizing organizational reforms to address what he described as prior "flawed" structures under . In response, expelled Patel from the party on July 3, 2023, alongside other defectors, framing the split as a betrayal driven by . The faction, with serving as working president, pursued legal validation for its claim to the NCP's name and 'clock' election amid disputes escalated to the (ECI) and . The ECI recognized the Ajit group as the legitimate NCP in February 2024, awarding it the party name, , and legislative status based on demonstrated MLA support and voter affidavits. The upheld this in October 2024, permitting the faction's use of the 'clock' for assembly polls while initially requiring disclaimers on the ongoing dispute, a ruling that solidified the split's structure ahead of elections. defended the criterion as the sole empirical basis for representation, rejecting Sharad Pawar's national executive meetings as unrepresentative. This alignment integrated the Ajit NCP into the Mahayuti coalition (BJP, Eknath Shinde's , and NCP), yielding tangible benefits such as favorable seat-sharing agreements covering 225-230 of 288 assembly constituencies by October 2024. In the November 2024 Maharashtra elections, Mahayuti secured a , with Ajit Pawar's NCP outperforming the Sharad faction in direct contests, retaining voter bases in key regions and emerging as the "true inheritor" of NCP's legacy per legislative outcomes. Patel retained his seat through re-election in February 2024 under the Ajit banner, resigning his prior term to commence a fresh six-year stint, which facilitated the BJP's reallocation of a vacancy. Critics from the Sharad camp persisted in labeling the shift as power-driven expediency, yet the faction's electoral retention—contrasting Sharad's reduced viability—underscored the causal efficacy of NDA ties in sustaining party infrastructure and parliamentary presence into 2025. No reunion materialized, with Patel ruling it out in January 2025 statements.

Ministerial roles

Tenure as Minister of Civil Aviation (2004–2009)

Praful Patel served as for with independent charge from May 2004 to May 2009 under the government. During this period, he deregulation measures to liberalize the sector, including signing an open skies agreement with the on April 14, 2005, which removed restrictions on routes, capacity, frequencies, and pricing to foster increased bilateral air traffic. This policy, replacing a restrictive 1940s-era pact, enabled more direct flights and contributed to a surge in international passenger traffic, with provisional data showing 15.6% growth in 2007 alone. Patel also raised limits in from 40% to 49%, facilitating private sector expansion and infrastructure investments. Key infrastructure initiatives included privatizing operations at major airports like and , alongside approvals for upgrades at multiple facilities to handle rising demand. Construction on 's Terminal 3 advanced significantly under his oversight, with 84% completion by December 2009, positioning the facility to process up to 34 million passengers annually upon its eventual opening. These efforts aligned with broader modernization to support domestic aviation's rapid expansion, evidenced by 32.51% growth in domestic passengers in 2007, driven by low-cost carriers entering the market post-deregulation. However, from a causal standpoint, such growth stemmed primarily from private airlines responding to reduced barriers, rather than state-owned entities, highlighting how market-oriented reforms boosted overall connectivity without proportionally benefiting protected incumbents. A pivotal decision was the merger of and , effective August 27, 2007, intended to consolidate operations into a unified national carrier amid fleet modernization plans. Patel oversaw orders for 111 aircraft across both entities pre- and post-merger, aiming to enhance competitiveness on international routes. Yet, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audits later attributed 's escalating losses—exacerbated by duplicated fleet acquisitions and operational inefficiencies—to decisions during this tenure, describing the expansion as mismatched to actual demand and a "recipe for disaster." Empirical outcomes revealed market distortions: while private carriers captured demand-driven growth, 's debt surged due to politically influenced overcapacity, with CAG noting inadequate foresight in procurement timing relative to merger synergies. Patel defended the moves as government-wide choices for long-term viability, but causal analysis indicates that shielding the state airline from competitive pricing pressures hindered efficiency gains seen elsewhere in the sector.

Tenure as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (2009–2014)

Praful Patel served as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises from January 19, 2011, to May 26, 2014, overseeing the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) during the UPA-II government's term. The portfolio encompassed policy formulation for public sector enterprises (PSUs) in sectors such as heavy electrical equipment, industrial machinery, automobiles, and earth-moving machinery, with major entities including Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and others under DHI. DPE focused on performance improvement, board structures, and personnel management across central PSUs. During his tenure, Patel advocated for structural reforms to enhance PSU efficiency, including a proposal for a fixed three-year tenure for chairmen and managing directors (CMDs) of PSUs to ensure leadership stability and long-term planning, announced in April 2013 and reiterated in May 2013. He also supported in loss-making units, such as the cabinet approval for privatizing Scooters India Limited in , a chronically unprofitable PSU, to reduce fiscal burdens. However, broader efforts faced hurdles; Patel stated in that the government held a clear but put off stakes in profitable firms like BHEL amid volatile markets, contributing to UPA's modest Rs. 31,354 disinvestment realization against a Rs. 40,000 target for 2011-12. Patel's initiatives included the (2012) and schemes to bolster the electrical equipment industry, launched in August 2013, targeting competitiveness, technology upgradation, skills development, exports, and latent demand conversion to counter reliance. He emphasized strengthening the capital goods sector to reduce dependence, aligning with efforts to revive amid global slowdowns post-2008 . In January 2012, Patel presided over the presentation of (MoU) Excellence Awards for PSU performance in 2009-10, recognizing entities under his ministry for operational achievements. PSU performance under DHI showed mixed results, with production growth in key firms but persistent inefficiencies. BHEL's turnover rose from Rs. 31,322 in 2009-10 to a peak of Rs. 50,525 in 2011-12 before declining to Rs. 44,123 in 2013-14 amid order slippages and competition from cheaper imports, reflecting broader sector challenges in maintaining against global rivals. SAIL's crude production increased from 12.62 million tonnes in 2009-10 to 13.73 million tonnes in 2013-14, supporting job preservation in labor-intensive operations, yet profitability suffered from high input costs and underutilization, with net profit dropping from Rs. 6,530 in 2010-11 to a loss in later years due to delayed capacity expansions. Overall, while PSUs under the ministry provided sectoral stability and employment for millions, empirical data indicated stagnant manufacturing GDP share around 16% and lower compared to private counterparts, attributable to protective policies that prioritized over competitive reforms. Critics, including Patel himself, noted UPA-II's policy delays and failure to ground mega projects, leading to perceived stagnation in heavy industries amid rising Chinese competition and domestic bottlenecks like land acquisition. These factors contributed to inefficiencies, as evidenced by persistent losses in several CPSEs reviewed by the in 2012, underscoring causal links between regulatory hurdles and subdued investment. Despite efforts toward second-stage reforms like Direct Tax Code amendments, implementation lagged, limiting transformative impacts.

Sports administration

Presidency of the All India Football Federation (AIFF)

Praful Patel assumed the presidency of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in October 2009, following an initial interim role, and was re-elected unopposed in December 2012 and December 2016 for subsequent four-year terms. His leadership extended beyond the standard three-term limit prescribed by FIFA statutes through AIFF resolutions and court interventions, including a 2020 extension of the executive committee's term amid delays in elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic and legal disputes over the National Sports Code. Under Patel's tenure, AIFF achieved notable administrative milestones in event hosting and infrastructure development. The federation successfully organized the , India's first major FIFA tournament, which featured 24 teams competing across six venues in cities including , , and , drawing over 1.3 million spectators and generating widespread media coverage. Patel, as chairman of the local organizing committee, emphasized upgrades to stadiums and training facilities to meet international standards, including renovations at and Stadium, which facilitated the event's completion without major logistical disruptions. These efforts were positioned by AIFF as foundational for long-term domestic growth, with investments exceeding ₹100 in venue improvements and youth academies. However, Patel's presidency faced criticisms for opacity and limited progress in player development. The prolonged extensions of his term, which exceeded the 12-year cap under the National Sports Code, were contested by the sports ministry as violations undermining democratic elections within the federation. Domestically, despite infrastructure spending, the —the premier national competition—experienced stagnant attendance averaging under 5,000 per match in seasons like 2018-19 and persistent financial instability for clubs, reflecting insufficient talent pipelines as youth leagues under AIFF operated irregularly with low participation rates. These issues contributed to critiques that administrative focus on high-profile events overshadowed systemic reforms needed for competitive depth, with India's domestic leagues failing to produce consistent national team performers during the period.

International engagements with FIFA and AFC

Praful Patel was appointed Senior Vice President of the (AFC) in December 2016, a position that enhanced his influence in regional football governance. In April 2017, he joined the Finance Committee for a four-year term, contributing to global financial oversight in football administration. These roles positioned him as a key representative for Asian interests within international bodies. Patel's most prominent international milestone came on April 6, 2019, when he was elected to the —the first Indian to achieve this—at the 29th AFC Congress in , securing 38 of 46 votes. As a Council member, he advocated for increased Asian representation and supported initiatives to host major tournaments in the region, including India's successful bid for the in March 2019. He also pursued bids for events like the and Club World Cup, aiming to leverage India's infrastructure post the 2017 U-17 World Cup hosting, which he helped secure earlier. Through these engagements, Patel's diplomacy correlated with empirical gains in India's global football profile, including a rise in FIFA rankings from 173rd in early 2015 to 96th by July 2017—the highest in over two decades—and sustained top-100 positioning thereafter. This elevation stemmed from heightened visibility via hosted events and strategic alliances, though critics, including some AFC stakeholders, argued it emphasized high-profile bids over domestic development, potentially diverting resources from grassroots infrastructure. Nonetheless, the period saw increased discussions in , with Patel's input helping align tournament allocations to reflect confederation growth.

Aviation sector allegations and investigations

In May 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered FIR No. RC-20(A)/2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Praful Patel, then Civil Aviation Minister from 2004 to 2009, alleging irregularities in the leasing of aircraft to National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), the merged entity of Air India and Indian Airlines. The probe focused on decisions taken around 2006–2007, claiming Patel abused his position to approve five-year leases for six aircraft without competitive bidding or proper evaluation, purportedly causing financial loss to the public exchequer and benefiting private lessors. These allegations emerged amid broader scrutiny of NACIL's expansion, where initial purchase plans for dozens of aircraft were reportedly altered to leases amid the merger overseen by a Group of Ministers including Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram. The (ED) initiated a parallel investigation in 2019, summoning Patel multiple times and attaching seven Mumbai flats worth over ₹180 belonging to him and his wife Varsha Patel in June 2019, linking the assets to proceeds of the alleged irregularities. Patel was questioned for over eight hours in one session, with the ED probing decisions like the merger's financial implications and aircraft deals. On March 28, 2024, the CBI filed a closure report before a court, stating no evidence of wrongdoing was found after extensive investigation, effectively clearing and other officials involved. Subsequently, on June 3, 2024, the Appellate Tribunal for Prevention of Act quashed the ED's attachment order, ruling it illegal due to prior attachments in another case and citing an ulterior motive in the proceedings, restoring the properties to . Opposition parties, including and , questioned the timing of the CBI closure—eight months after Patel aligned with the NDA-led faction in the NCP split in July 2023—labeling it a product of political expediency akin to a "" for allies. Patel countered that the probes yielded no incriminating material, emphasizing the merger's high-level oversight and lack of prosecutable after years of . Despite persistent suspicions, the investigations concluded without charges, reflecting an absence of empirical proof to sustain the claims.

Alleged orchestration of AIFF suspension by FIFA

In May 2022, the removed Praful Patel from the presidency of the (AIFF), citing his tenure extension beyond the three-term limit mandated by the National Sports Code, 2011, and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) to oversee the federation's operations pending elections. Patel, who had served as AIFF president from 2009 to 2022 and held a position on the , subsequently communicated with and the (AFC) regarding the implications of the court's intervention. On May 23, 2022, Patel wrote to President , acknowledging potential interference concerns but urging against immediate suspension to allow time for resolution. The CoA accused Patel of instigating and AFC threats of suspension by leveraging his role to highlight the CoA's oversight as undue third-party interference, violating statutes that prohibit governmental or judicial meddling in federation autonomy. On August 5, 2022, and AFC issued a joint letter to the CoA warning of potential bans on Indian teams from international competitions if the third-party control persisted, which the CoA claimed Patel had "arranged" to pressure compliance reversal. The CoA filed a contempt petition against Patel in the on August 10, 2022, alleging he abused his position to "orchestrate" the correspondence and interfere with court proceedings, including selective dissemination of the -AFC letter to create panic among state associations. The expressed displeasure at reports of Patel's continued influence over state football bodies, warning of potential action against associations defying the CoA. FIFA's unanimously suspended the AIFF on August 15, 2022, citing "undue influence by third parties" through the CoA's control, which barred Indian teams from international matches and led to India losing hosting rights for the 2022 on August 17, 2022. The suspension was lifted on August 26, 2022, after the dissolved the CoA, approved a new AIFF aligned with requirements, and facilitated elections resulting in Kalyan Chaubey's election as president on August 28, 2022. Counterarguments from Patel's perspective and some observers framed the crisis as stemming from judicial overreach infringing on FIFA's principles, with Patel's communications portrayed as protective efforts to avert bans rather than orchestration; empirical resolution via elections demonstrated that structural reforms, not individual actions, addressed FIFA's core concerns. Critics of the CoA's allegations, including in court filings, noted that FIFA's suspension directly targeted the court's intervention, not prior AIFF , underscoring broader tensions between national legal mandates and international .

Current positions and broader impact

Ongoing political and organizational roles

Praful Patel continues to serve as a Member of Parliament in the from , re-elected unopposed on February 27, 2024, following his resignation from the prior term to enable a fresh six-year tenure starting in 2024. He took oath as a member on May 10, 2024, in the presence of Rajya Sabha Chairman . Within the ( faction), Patel holds the position of Working President, a role he assumed amid the 2023 party split and has retained through subsequent organizational realignments. This leadership extends to coordinating cadre activities, as evidenced by his May 24, 2025, address in urging leaders to prioritize party loyalty for reciprocal support. Patel has actively participated in Mahayuti coalition negotiations in Maharashtra, including seat-sharing consensus on 225–230 seats announced on October 14, 2024, ahead of the assembly elections, which the alliance won decisively with 235 seats on November 23, 2024. In September 2025, he stated that alliances for upcoming rural and urban local body polls would be determined at the district level rather than centrally. He declined a Minister of State position in the Modi 3.0 cabinet on June 9, 2024, amid the NCP's limited Lok Sabha performance.

Evaluation of achievements and criticisms

During Praful Patel's tenure as Minister of from 2004 to 2009, the sector experienced significant expansion, with domestic air traffic registering approximately 40% year-on-year growth in 2006-2007 and an average compounded annual growth rate of around 25% over the preceding decade, driven by policy reforms including airport modernization and an increase in caps from 40% to 49%. Overall air passenger traffic in grew by about 16.5% annually from 2004-05 to 2010-11, reflecting measures that boosted and , though subsequent global economic factors and operational inefficiencies tempered long-term . In sports administration, Patel's of the facilitated 's hosting of major events such as the in 2017 and the AFC U-16 Championship in 2016, alongside his election as the first Indian to the in 2019, which elevated the country's profile in international football governance. Criticisms of Patel's record center on decisions that contributed to financial burdens in public sector undertakings, particularly the merger of and , which a government audit attributed to premature execution leading to operational mismatches and mounting debts exceeding ₹20,000 by the early 2010s, exacerbating the carrier's decline amid broader UPA-era fiscal laxity. In heavy industries, oversight of public enterprises faced scrutiny for persistent losses in entities like Instrumentation Ltd., though systemic inefficiencies in state-owned firms predated his 2009-2014 tenure and reflected wider challenges in delays and debt accumulation under constraints. under Patel drew accusations of administrative overreach, culminating in FIFA's temporary suspension of the AIFF in 2022 for third-party interference, though investigations into related allegations, including aviation procurement irregularities, resulted in closures by the CBI without convictions, underscoring a pattern where probes often lacked prosecutable evidence despite political narratives of malfeasance. From a causal standpoint, Patel's initiatives catalyzed short-term sectoral dynamism—evident in aviation's passenger surge and football's event-hosting milestones—but were undermined by inadequate in mergers and alliances, amplifying debts that burdened taxpayers amid UPA's expansive welfare spending and delayed reforms, where individual decisions intertwined with compromises rather than isolated agency. Right-leaning critiques highlight shortfalls, such as over-reliance on subsidies without competitive pruning, yet empirical outcomes show no personal enrichment convictions, distinguishing Patel's record from more egregious UPA scandals. Net, his contributions to and international positioning yielded tangible growth metrics, but legacy costs in public enterprises reveal the perils of politically expedited integrations without rigorous fiscal safeguards, a recurring dynamic in India's mixed-economy framework.

References

  1. https://praful-patel.com/about.php
  2. https://m.economictimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/praful-patel-achieves-the-impossible-in-face-of-odds/articleshow/2468793.cms
  3. https://mabumbe.com/people/praful-patel-bio-age-net-worth-career-highlights/
  4. https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/praful-patel-aill-india-football-federation-sc-7927125/
  5. https://organiser.org/2022/08/16/91541/bharat/aiff-suspension-by-fifa-and-the-praful-patel-connection/
  6. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-wrongdoing-cbi-shuts-case-vs-ncp-praful-patel-who-is-now-in-nda-days-before-lok-sabha-polls-5332058
  7. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/a-man-friday-emerges-out-of-his-master-s-shadow-1235245.html
  8. https://www.moneylife.in/article/how-air-india-was-destroyed/35208.html
  9. https://politicianinfo.in/praful-patel/
  10. https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/wings-and-the-man-105012901061_1.html
  11. https://v2.india.gov.in/mr/directory/whos-who/ministers-details?mpno=208&house=rajyasabha&p=rajya-sabha-members
  12. https://www.uppercrustindia.com/oldsite/31crust/coverstory.html
  13. https://starsunfolded.com/praful-patel/
  14. https://www.myneta.info/rajsab09aff/candidate.php?candidate_id=627
  15. https://www.rediff.com/money/special/spec/20050129.htm
  16. https://prafulpatelncp.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/the-journey-of-being-praful/
  17. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/newsmaker-praful-patel-104060501030_1.html
  18. https://m.economictimes.com/business-reformer-praful-patel/articleshow/2429987.cms
  19. https://indiaresource.org/news/2004/1017.html
  20. https://publicintegrity.org/health/in-india-bidi-industrys-clout-trumps-health-initiatives/
  21. https://m.economictimes.com/congratulate-praful-patel/articleshow/2430266.cms
  22. https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ttciMFI7bVUx3MkvG2HrbM/The-business-interests-of-Praful-Patel.html
  23. https://www.flightglobal.com/praful-patel-overseeing-change-in-india/77403.article
  24. http://thinkworks.in/speakers/praful-patel/
  25. https://asiasociety.org/india/events/young-turks-political-turf
  26. https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/ncp-leader-praful-patel-elected-to-rajya-sabha-114061201253_1.html
  27. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ajit-pawar-ncp-praful-patel-rajya-sabha-polls-9161872/
  28. https://m.economictimes.com/special-report/coalition-key-to-politics-praful-patel/articleshow/2695831.cms
  29. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/congress-never-bothered-about-upa-partners-praful-patel/
  30. https://www.indiavotes.com/vidhan-sabha/2009/maharashtra/206/30
  31. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/outfoxed-outgunned-and-outnumbered-how-sharad-pawar-built-and-lost-ncp/articleshow/101520634.cms
  32. https://www.news18.com/politics/ncp-praful-patel-ajit-pawar-sharad-pawar-supriya-sule-split-party-faction-support-40-mlas-maharashtra-crisis-exclusive-8251303.html
  33. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ncp-has-not-split-meeting-held-by-sharad-pawar-not-official-praful-patel/articleshow/101576826.cms
  34. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/mumbai-sharad-pawar-expels-ncp-leaders-in-retaliation-to-ajit-pawar-s-defection-bitterness-escalates-101688413123594.html
  35. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1754878800532316322?ref_src=twsrc%255Etfw
  36. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-allows-ajits-party-to-use-clock-symbol-with-rider/articleshow/114559938.cms
  37. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ncp-split-praful-patel-claims-electoral-majority-is-only-basis-for-representation-2440523-2023-09-26
  38. https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-elections-2024-mahayuti-finalises-seat-sharing-for-225-to-230-seats-449982-2024-10-14
  39. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/sharad-pawar-assembly-poll-rout-raises-question-of-existence-for-patriarchs-political-legacy/
  40. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/praful-patel-rajya-sabha-berth-bjp-bhandara-gondia-lok-sabha-seat-9163517/
  41. https://www.business-standard.com/politics/ncp-leader-praful-patel-resigns-from-rs-after-re-election-for-new-term-124022701357_1.html
  42. https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/assembly/video/maharashtra-election-praful-patel-says-one-of-the-most-spectacular-victories-2638764-2024-11-23
  43. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1259037
  44. https://www.weforum.org/people/praful-patel/
  45. https://2001-2009.state.gov/e/eeb/rls/prsrl/2005/44623.htm
  46. https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget_archive/es2007-08/chapt2008/chap95.pdf
  47. https://in.opencampaign.com/politicians-in-india/17993/praful-patel/achievements
  48. https://www.constructionweekonline.in/business/igi-airport-project-progress-on-schedule
  49. https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/567000/1/66032.pdf
  50. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/air-india-indian-airlines-merger-purchase-of-111-aircraft-collective-decision-of-upa-government-praful-patel/articleshow/58912071.cms
  51. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14849640
  52. https://www.reuters.com/article/business/india-federal-auditor-criticises-air-india-aircraft-buy-idUSL3E7K81EF/
  53. https://praful-patel.com/vision.php
  54. https://m.economictimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/praful-patel-for-3-yr-tenure-for-cmds-of-public-sector-units/articleshow/19741496.cms
  55. https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/policy/psu-heads-to-have-fixed-tenure-of-3-years-praful-patel/articleshow/20217184.cms
  56. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabinet-clears-disinvestment-of-scooters-india/articleshow/8453952.cms
  57. https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/policy/bhel-disinvestment-on-hold-praful-patel/articleshow/16062262.cms
  58. https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2011/Mar/01/disinvestment-target-will-be-met-praful-patel-231743.html
  59. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=97927
  60. https://www.taxtmi.com/news?id=4089
  61. https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114225
  62. https://www.scribd.com/document/391474157/BHEL-AR-2014-15-Shareholder-Version-English
  63. https://www.academia.edu/105635309/A_Comparative_Analysis_of_Profitability_of_SAIL_and_RINL
  64. https://www2.gwu.edu/~iiep/assets/docs/papers/2017WP/ChhibberIIEPWP2017-6.pdf
  65. https://www.millenniumpost.in/praful-admits-upas-failure-in-grounding-mega-projects-194790
  66. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/upa-ii-shot-itself-in-the-foot-says-praful-patel/articleshow/18994207.cms
  67. https://www.powergrid.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/16_Public_Undertakings_24_1.pdf
  68. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/time-for-second-stage-of-economic-reforms-praful-patel/articleshow/16767219.cms
  69. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/aiff-president-praful-patel-finally-runs-out-of-luck-tenure-beyond-permissible-limit-ends/articleshow/91644919.cms
  70. https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/aiff-president-praful-patel-leaves-office-before-elections-supreme-court-intervention/article38495629.ece
  71. https://sports.ndtv.com/football/aiff-extends-its-executive-committee-term-praful-patel-not-to-contest-future-elections-report-2341810
  72. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37627319/praful-patels-tenure-aiff-president-violates-sports-code-sports-ministry-tells-supreme-court
  73. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football-fifa-u17-world-cup/we-have-international-standard-infrastructure-now-praful-patel-4845195/
  74. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/fifa-u-17-world-cup-india-2017-hailed-fantastic-tournament/
  75. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football-fifa-u17-world-cup/india-is-100-percent-ready-to-host-fifa-u-17-world-cup-says-praful-patel-4862699/
  76. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/fifa-bans-aiff-timeline-of-how-indian-football-faced-ultimate-embarrassment/articleshow/93587226.cms
  77. https://scroll.in/field/932352/he-kicked-off-alright-but-praful-patel-now-seems-to-be-dismantling-his-own-achievements
  78. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/praful-patel-appointed-as-afc-senior-vice-president/articleshow/55743215.cms
  79. https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/praful-patel-elected-as-fifa-council-member/article26757882.ece
  80. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/praful-patel-elected-as-fifa-council-member-first-from-india/articleshow/68749520.cms
  81. https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/bigger-challenge-lies-ahead-says-aiff-chief-praful-patel-on-getting-u-17-womens-world-cup/article26553848.ece
  82. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/u-20-world-cup-bid-on-will-meet-new-fifa-president-says-praful-patel-2762765/
  83. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/aiff-will-bid-for-u-20-world-cup-praful-patel/articleshow/55540498.cms
  84. https://www.the-aiff.com/article/india-climb-up-to-96-in-latest-fifa-rankings
  85. https://m.economictimes.com/news/sports/india-rise-to-101-in-fifa-rankings-best-ever-in-two-decades/articleshow/58045928.cms
  86. https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/praful-patel-striving-to-make-football-in-asia-a-dominant-force/djovfnozer919kan6q5dp45f
  87. https://cbi.gov.in/assets/files/fir/RC0032017A0020.pdf
  88. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cong-questions-cbi-clearance-for-praful-patel-in-rs-30000-crore-air-india-scam/articleshow/108904698.cms
  89. https://aninews.in/news/national/politics/cbi-found-nothing-against-me-praful-patel-opens-up-on-closure-report-in-air-india-scam-washing-machine-jibe20240501145406/?amp=1
  90. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aviation-scam-case-praful-patel-grilled-by-ed-for-eight-hours-to-depose-again-on-tuesday-5774120/
  91. https://thehindu.com/news/national/ed-summons-ex-minister-praful-patel-over-alleged-irregularities-in-upa-era-aircraft-deal/article27399522.ece
  92. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cbi-files-closure-report-in-ai-case-against-praful/articleshow/108860956.cms
  93. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/no-evidence-of-wrongdoing-cbi-closes-upa-era-air-india-aircraft-leasing-case-2956711
  94. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/appellate-tribunal-quashes-ed-attachment-of-praful-patels-assets/articleshow/110805871.cms
  95. https://theprint.in/judiciary/ulterior-motive-tribunal-order-quashing-ed-attachment-of-ncp-mp-praful-patels-rs-180-cr-properties/2123676/
  96. https://archive.aamaadmiparty.org/praful-patel-became-spotless-as-soon-as-he-was-washed-in-bjps-washing-machine-got-clean-chit-in-aircraft-lease-scam-aap/
  97. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/sc-appoints-coa-to-manage-affairs-of-aiff-oust-praful-patel-led-executive-committee-7924395/
  98. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/praful-patel-requests-fifa-chief-infantino-to-not-ban-india/articleshow/91749515.cms
  99. https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/ex-football-chief-praful-patel-arranged-fifa-letter-on-india-ban-sc-mandated-panel-8083230/
  100. https://www.news18.com/news/football/praful-patel-arranged-a-letter-from-fifa-threatening-a-ban-on-india-accuses-supreme-court-mandated-panel-5758429.html
  101. https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/committee-of-administrators-slams-praful-patel-for-suspension-preferences/article65740856.ece
  102. https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/abused-his-position-coa-moves-sc-seeking-contempt-against-praful-patel-in-aiff-case/articleshow/93470589.cms
  103. https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/coa-administrators-aiff-football-praful-patel-contempt-petition-supreme-court-indian-fooball/article65753828.ece
  104. https://www.pgurus.com/supreme-court-expresses-displeasure-over-praful-patels-interference-in-all-india-football-federation-aiff-functioning/
  105. https://www.olympics.com/en/news/fifa-suspension-aiff-india-football-u17-world-cup-2022
  106. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/16/football/india-football-suspension-fifa-aiff-spt-intl
  107. https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/explained-why-fifa-banned-all-india-football-federation/article65774531.ece
  108. https://scroll.in/field/1030599/fifa-suspends-aiff-a-timeline-of-events-that-led-to-indias-expulsion-from-world-football
  109. https://sportslawreviewindia.blog/2023/01/07/deconstructing-the-aiff-suspension-conundrum-analysis-of-fifas-approach-on-third-party-intervention/
  110. https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ncp-leader-praful-patel-takes-oath-as-rajya-sabha-member/articleshow/110009514.cms
  111. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-sena-vs-sena-its-ncp-vs-ncp-whats-praful-patels-role-in-ajit-pawars-coup-101688291309576.html
  112. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/party-will-back-you-only-if-you-back-the-party-ncp-chief-praful-patel-to-cadre/articleshow/121375078.cms
  113. https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/maharashtra/maharashtra-assembly-elections-2024-consensus-among-mahayuti-allies-on-225-to-230-seats-praful-patel-3231705
  114. https://theprint.in/india/decision-on-alliances-for-maharashtra-rural-urban-body-polls-at-local-level-ncp-leader-patel/2753673/
  115. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/ncp-praful-patel-declines-mos-berth-in-modi-3-0-cabinet-bjp-says-wait-for-remedial-measures-ajit-pawar-oath-ceremony-latest-updates-2024-06-09-936051
  116. https://m.economictimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/16-5-per-cent-growth-in-air-traffic-in-from-2004-05-to-2010-11/articleshow/12358387.cms
  117. https://www.firstpost.com/sports/aiff-president-praful-patel-appointed-as-asian-football-confederations-senior-vp-3135708.html
  118. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/praful-patel-elected-as-fifa-council-member-first-from-india/articleshow/68749795.cms
  119. https://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/nIH6rsgfrpMlgJSy5CqJ5O/Praful-Patel-blamed-for-grounding-Air-India.html
  120. https://m.economictimes.com/news/economy/finance/small-companies-complain-non-payment-by-state-run-instrumentation/articleshow/21803381.cms
  121. https://scroll.in/latest/1065949/cbi-closes-aviation-scam-case-against-ncps-praful-patel-eight-months-after-he-joined-nda
  122. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-files-closure-report-in-air-india-leasing-scandal/article68002866.ece
  123. https://www.pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=11370
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.