CM Ibrahim

Chand Mahal Ibrahim is an Indian National Congress politician from the south Indian state of Karnataka. He has served as the country's Minister of Civil Aviation and Information & Broadcasting Minister during the 1990s.

Controversies

TATA-Singapore Airlines Controversy

In 1997, Ibrahim denied permission to a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines to operate a domestic airline in India. Ibrahim claimed that his reasons were ideological, as he was opposed to foreign investment in the Indian aviation sector.^[1] However, at the time, a senior bureaucrat accused the Aviation ministry of being "a "malign influence",^[1] and there were allegations that Ibrahim was protecting the private carrier Jet Airways ^[2][3][4] On 15 November 15, 2010, Ratan Tata, the head of the Tata group alleged that, during the 1990s, a minister had asked for a bribe of INR 15 crore (USD 3.3 million approx) to clear a proposed venture with Singapore Airlines, but he had refused to pay the bribe.^[5][6] Although Tata did not name Ibrahim as the offending minister, sections of the media speculated that the minister Tata was referring to may have been Ibrahim. Ibrahim denied the allegation.^[7]

Star DTH Controversy

As Information & Broadcasting Minister, Ibrahim denied Star Television permission to operate a Direct to Home (DTH) service in India. It was alleged that Ibrahim had overruled other ministers and was protecting the interests of Star's rival Zee Television, who he granted permission to operate a DTH network.^[8][9][10]

Voting bribery Controversy

On September 1, 2010, while campaigning in his home state, Ibrahim alleged that Katta Subramanya Naidu, a politician from the rival Bharatiya Janata Party was bribing voters. However, Ibrahim reportedly told voters: "Take the stack of currency given by Katta Subramanya Naidu without any second thought but do not fail to cast vote for Congress.".^[11] The Deccan Herald accused Ibrahim of making a "mockery out of democracy." ^[11]

References