Unfazed by Bloomsbury move, Bhargava wants AI book to take off in e-space

Former Air India Executive DirectorJitendra Bhargava, whose book blaming Praful Patel for thenear grounding of the national carrier has been pulled off the

shelves after an out-of-court settlement between theex-Aviation Minister and publisher, now plans to e-publish it.He has also slammed the legal settlement between Patel,now Union Heavy Industries Minister, and the publisher, as itwas reached without consulting him.

“A lot of e-publishers have been approaching me for mybook. I may exercise this option,” Bhargava told PTI.“A lot of Air India employees, particularly retired ones,

have a lot of emotional connect with this book and they wouldbe wanting to read it as well,” he said.

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‘The Descent of Air India’ chronicles the financial woesof the airline caused by alleged Government interference inits functioning and decisions taken by it that were

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detrimental to the national carrier’s interests.Patel, a senior leader of the NCP, helmed the CivilAviation Ministry between 2004 and 2011.In the book, Bhargava has alleged that the then officialsof Air India totally gave in to Patel’s whims and fancies.

The book highlights factors that led to a huge pile-up ofdebts and heavy losses to the airline because of allegeddistribution of bilateral traffic rights to foreign carriers

and surrender of profitable routes to private carriers at theexpense of Air India during Patel’s term.Miffed over the allegations against him, Patel had fileda defamation suit against Bhargava and the publisher,Bloomsbury. The publisher then reached a compromise with Pateland agreed to destroy the remaining copies of the book besidestendering an apology in leading newspapers.

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Following the compromise, a Metropolitan Magistrate’sCourt here compounded the offence and acquitted the publisher.However, the case against Bhargava would continue.“Patel and the publisher reached an out-of-the-courtsettlement without prior discussion with me. This isunprecedented,” said Bhargava.

“I have the confidence to say that whatever I have statedin the book is based on facts and documents. I will justifyeach and every statement in the court,” said Bhargava.

However, Patel’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde said there wasno need to consult Bhargava before reaching a settlement withthe publisher.“Why should we consult Bhargava for a compromise. Thecase was also against the publisher and this has been settled.He has no choice but to accept our settlement,” he said.

PTI