Ilker Ayci, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Air India, would have his background completely checked by Ministry of Home Affairs after allegations of his connections with Al Qaeda has emerged.
Ayci, a Turkish national, has been a close aide of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish head supports Pakistan on international platforms.
As per the news agency PTI, such backgrounds are routine for foreign nationals in case they acquire a key position in Indian companies.
Sources suggested that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) might take support from external intelligence agency RAW for background check on Ayci.
Apart from his connection with Erdogan, Ayci had promoted private investment and ventures by Yasin al-Qadi, the alleged Al Qaeda financier, when he was the chairman of the Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT).
Al-Qadi had been singled out by the United States Department of Treasury and the UN Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee for alleged links to financing terrorist groups.
Sanctions were applied against him, and his assets were frozen by several investigating agencies. However, his name was later removed from the blacklist after several courts had cleared his name.
Erdogan’s son, Necmettin Bilal and Al-Qadi, were prime suspects in a corruption investigation in 2013. However, Erdogan allegedly used his powers to prevent the arrest and cover up the crimes.
