New Delhi, June 13: Following the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives, Congress leader Udit Raj has launched a scathing attack on the aviation safety system in India, claiming that a Director at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) holds a fake degree and that oversight failure led to the tragedy.

Speaking to media, Udit Raj said, “DGCA director’s degree is fake. Such incidents are bound to happen when people with fake degrees are clearing safety standards. Sikkim University has stated that his degree is forged. A PIL has also been filed in the High Court. When such people sit in key positions in civil aviation, accidents are inevitable.”

The Congress leader expressed sorrow for the victims but questioned the government’s response and accountability: “This is an extremely tragic incident. My condolences are with the families of the deceased. But when the Home Minister simply calls it an ‘accident,’ it raises serious concerns. Should we now expect such accidents to become routine? There are ways to prevent them.”

He further stated that the government has failed to act despite red flags: “When the civil aviation director, responsible for safety, is sitting with a fake degree and no action is taken, it’s obvious why such tragedies occur. Even after a PIL was filed, the official was protected.”

Raj also criticised the political double standards, adding: “If the Congress were in power today, the BJP would have demanded the resignation of the Prime Minister himself. At the very least, the Civil Aviation Minister’s resignation would be called for. But we are not politicising this, we stand with the grieving families.”

The Air India Dreamliner had taken off from Ahmedabad on June 12 en route to Gatwick, London, but crashed moments later into a residential area, making it one of the worst aviation disasters in recent memory.

In addition to the 241 lives lost in the crash, many people died in the area where the ill-fated plane fell. The government has launched a probe into the tragic incident.

New Delhi, June 13: The Supreme Court on Friday turned down the prayer of former Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni to grant him additional time to surrender before the concerned jail authorities in connection with the murder of BJP worker Yogesh Gowda.

A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan refused to grant seven more days to Kulkarni, who was ordered on June 6 to “surrender before the concerned trial court or jail authority within a period of one week”.

In an order passed last Friday, the top court had allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s plea to cancel Kulkarni’s bail over allegations of witness tampering.

It had taken note of the Central agency’s submission that the accused, presently the Chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, attempted to contact witnesses through their friends and known persons to depose against the prosecution.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra said that there was “sufficient material on record” to suggest that attempts were made by Kulkarni to “either contact witnesses or alternatively, influence such witnesses”.

Keeping in mind the totality of circumstances, the Justice Karol-led Bench was of the considered opinion that the bail granted to Kulkarni should be cancelled. However, it “consciously” refrained from making detailed observations in respect of the allegation of witness-tampering.

In its order, the Supreme Court asked the trial court to make an endeavour to conclude the trial expeditiously, without being influenced by any of its observations contained in the order cancelling the bail of Kulkarni.

Earlier, the trial court had taken the view that it did not have the jurisdiction to consider the CBI’s application seeking cancellation of regular bail since Kulkarni was enlarged on bail by the Supreme Court.

The apex court observed that the trial court’s view was not in consonance with its decision in Gurcharan Singh vs. State (Delhi Admn.) case, and the court below could have entertained an application seeking cancellation of bail on the grounds of violation of bail conditions notwithstanding the fact that bail was granted by the Supreme Court.

Kulkarni was accused of conspiring in the murder of the BJP Zilla Panchayat member Yogesh Gowda in 2016. He was then a Cabinet minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. Though his name came up, no action was initiated against him. The BJP made it an issue, and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa vowed at election rallies that he would send Kulkarni to jail if the BJP was voted to power. Later, the case was handed over to the CBI, and Kulkarni was arrested. He spent more than nine months in jail and finally obtained bail from the Supreme Court.

Ahmedabad, June 13: As India grapples with the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the Charotar region comprising Anand and Kheda districts has emerged as one of the most affected areas. A sense of disbelief hangs heavy in the villages and towns across the two districts, as reports confirm that at least 50 people from the region were on board the ill-fated London-bound flight.

The flight AI171, which crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, had 242 people on board. Of these, 33 were from Anand district, and 17 from Kheda, according to initial reports. Many families have been left shattered, with multiple members perishing in the tragedy.

Among those killed were students, homemakers, doctors, and people who were going to reunite with their loved ones in the UK. One such family is the Halani family from Anand, who had received visitor visas and were travelling to meet relatives. Tragically, all three members lost their lives.

The Anand District BJP released a list of 33 known passengers from villages like Borsad, Phangni, Chikhodara, Karamsad, Sojitra, Ramnagar, Khambholj, Umreth, Kasumbad, Gana, Tarapur, and Anand city. The list includes 15 women and at least one medical doctor. Crowds of grieving relatives rushed to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, where government teams are carrying out DNA identification and helping families through the nightmare.

In Kheda district, the toll remains uncertain. However, it is confirmed that Prashant Patel, former president of Kathlal Municipality, who recently joined the BJP, was also among the passengers. People from Nadiad, Mehmadabad, Thasra, and Kathlal were also headed to London.

There are stories that pierce the heart.

Nikhil Patel, a bright student from Fogani village in Petlad, was travelling to the UK for higher studies on a student visa. It was his first international trip — one filled with dreams and hope. His life ended before it could begin anew.

Parth Sharma (22), from Tarapur in Anand, had also just secured his student visa to London.

After being dropped off at the airport by family and friends, the same group had only just reached Kheda when they heard the crushing news of the crash. They turned around, now engulfed in shock.

Manjula Patel, a mother from Borsad, had spent ten years trying to get a visa to visit her son and grandchildren in the UK. After 20 visa rejections, her wish was finally granted.

But fate was cruel — this long-awaited reunion never happened. Her family says she boarded the flight full of joy. She never made it.

Dirgh Prafulbhai Patel, the younger son of a family from Vadali in Kapadvanj, had come home on a visit barely 25 days ago. A London resident, Dirgh was returning abroad when the crash took his life. His father, an ITI employee, is inconsolable.