New Delhi: The legal troubles surrounding the insolvency proceedings of now-grounded airline Go First have intensified after Ernakulam Police registered an FIR against the company’s former board of directors, an unnamed official of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), travel booking platforms EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip, and the airline’s Resolution Professional.

The FIR, filed on July 9, relates to allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust connected with ticket bookings made after Go First had begun its insolvency process. The case was registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections related to breach of trust, cheating, and fraudulent conduct.

The action follows an order from the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ernakulam based on a complaint filed by aviation safety activist and advocate Yeshwant Shenoy. The complaint alleged that ticket sales continued despite the airline’s decision to seek voluntary insolvency, potentially causing financial losses to passengers.

Allegations Over Ticket Sales During Insolvency Process

According to the complaint, Go First’s board approved the decision to initiate insolvency proceedings on April 28, 2023. Shareholders later approved the move during an Extraordinary General Meeting on April 30, and the airline approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 2, 2023.

However, the complaint claims that ticket bookings continued until May 10, allowing passengers to purchase tickets for flights that were later cancelled after the airline suspended operations.

Those named in the FIR include former chairman Nusli Neville Wadia, director Ness Nusli Wadia, former CEO Kaushik Khona, other former board members, an unidentified DGCA official, online travel companies EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip, and Resolution Professional Shailendra Ajmera.

Passenger Claims Financial Loss

The complainant stated that he personally suffered a loss of ₹64,000 after booking Kochi-Mumbai flight tickets for family members and friends on the same day Go First filed its insolvency application.

He alleged that despite raising concerns with the aviation regulator, action to stop advance bookings was taken only on May 10 following intervention by the Kerala High Court.

The complaint further alleges that the DGCA was aware of Go First’s financial difficulties but failed to take timely steps to protect passengers. It referred to previous regulatory actions involving financially distressed airlines, including restrictions placed on advance bookings during earlier crises.

Dispute Over Scale of Passenger Losses

The complaint has also questioned the reported financial impact on passengers. Go First had stated that around 4,118 flights were cancelled in April 2023, affecting nearly 77,500 passengers.

While media reports estimated passenger-related claims at approximately ₹900 crore, the complainant argued that the actual amount collected from passengers could have been significantly higher, alleging that bookings continued for additional days despite the airline’s financial situation.

The FIR alleges that the accused parties may have caused financial harm to passengers while benefiting from continued ticket transactions despite the airline’s expected operational shutdown.

Investigation to Examine Records and Communications

The police investigation is expected to examine various documents, including board decisions, communications between Go First and regulatory authorities, booking details, payment records, and the role of online travel platforms in processing ticket sales.

The probe will also look into whether adequate disclosures and warnings were provided to passengers during the period between the insolvency decision and the suspension of bookings.

Experts Highlight Need for Stronger Consumer Protection

Cybercrime and digital fraud experts have noted that while the case primarily involves corporate and regulatory issues, online platforms handling consumer payments must maintain strict compliance standards during periods of financial uncertainty.

Experts have stressed the importance of timely coordination between regulators, airlines, payment providers, and booking platforms to ensure passengers are informed quickly and protected from avoidable losses.

The matter is currently under investigation. The allegations mentioned in the FIR remain unproven, and no court has established guilt against any of the individuals or organisations named in the case.

The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning regarding the rising misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate fake judicial judgments that are being cited in court proceedings despite lacking any official record. The court highlighted that such practices pose a serious risk to the integrity of the judicial system, both in India and internationally.

AI: A Powerful Tool with Potential Risks

The issue surfaced during the hearing of a Special Leave Petition filed by a private company director seeking to remove remarks made by the Bombay High Court. The remarks had been based on a judgment that later turned out to be entirely AI-generated and non-existent. The Supreme Court expressed deep concern over the increasing reliance on AI tools to fabricate legal content and present it as authentic precedent.

The bench emphasized that while AI can serve as a useful research and analytical tool, its unverified use threatens the credibility of judicial proceedings. Presenting AI-generated content in court without rigorous verification violates professional ethics and can mislead the administration of justice.

A Global Challenge for Legal Systems

The court noted that this is not just an Indian problem but a growing global challenge. With AI technology becoming widely accessible, the creation and circulation of misleading or fabricated legal documents is becoming easier. The Supreme Court urged courts, legal professionals, and institutions to exercise heightened vigilance to prevent misuse.

Legal experts have warned that AI-driven fake judgments could result in serious institutional and legal consequences if left unchecked. Accuracy, authenticity, and careful verification remain essential in ensuring the judicial process remains credible.

Steps Toward Safeguards and Oversight

In the specific case, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of the Bombay High Court remarks tied to the AI-generated content. At the same time, the bench indicated that broader guidelines and stricter measures may be needed to address AI misuse in legal practice in the future. The court advised all stakeholders to maintain vigilance to preserve transparency, accuracy, and trust in the legal system.

As AI adoption in legal research and documentation grows, ensuring responsible usage and robust verification processes will be critical to preventing technology from undermining justice.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah Group, in connection with an alleged ₹45 crore land fraud case in Delhi. Authorities say the case involves the acquisition of property using forged documents.

Siddiqui, who also serves as director and majority shareholder of the Tarbia Education Foundation, was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. ED investigations revealed that falsified documents were used to fraudulently acquire land in Village Madanpur Khadar, New Delhi (Khasra No. 792), covering 1.146 acres. While the documents cited a consideration amount of ₹75 lakh, the actual market value of the property is estimated at ₹45 crore.

Siddiqui was presented before a Delhi court, which remanded him to ED custody until April 4 for further questioning. Investigators are actively tracing the money trail and identifying other potential beneficiaries or properties acquired through the alleged scheme.

This arrest follows Siddiqui’s earlier detention on November 19, 2025, in a separate money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent accreditation claims and financial irregularities at Al Falah University. Previous complaints filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch included charges of cheating and forgery of accreditation documents.

Interim investigations have also scrutinized the university’s Dhouj campus in Faridabad, following the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which claimed 15 lives. One doctor associated with the university-hospital, Dr. Umar-un-Nabi, was allegedly involved in the blast as a suicide bomber, prompting the ED to examine the university’s broader connections.

Experts say cases like this highlight growing trends of money laundering, forged documents, and fraudulent land acquisitions, particularly involving senior officials in higher education. Investigators emphasize that Siddiqui’s arrest is part of a broader probe to ensure all involved parties are identified and held accountable.

The ED continues to interrogate individuals in custody to trace funds, related assets, and other potential accomplices. Authorities have stressed that strict legal action will be taken if further irregularities are discovered. The case raises pressing questions about financial transparency, governance, and regulatory oversight in educational institutions.