KUALA LUMPUR (June 5): AirAsia Group Bhd has refuted reports that the company and its group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes had been “summoned” to appear before India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 6 for “questioning”.

“We wish to state categorically that neither AirAsia Group nor Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, in his personal capacity, has received any such notice as of today,” the group said in a Bursa Malaysia filing today.

On June 1, the Times of India (TOI) reported that the CBI had summoned Fernandes to appear before the graft-buster agency on June 6.

Citing two unnamed sources, TOI said the CBI had sent a notice to Fernandes via email.

According to TOI, the sources said the CBI intends to question Fernandes regarding approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board to invest in India, as well as his alleged efforts to get the ‘5/20’ rule of civil aviation policy changed so that AirAsia could start international operations there.

“He is also accused of pressuring former AirAsia India Ltd (AAIL) chief executive officer Mittu Chandilya to pursue changes in regulatory policies for international aviation in India suitable to the company,” TOI had said.

AirAsia said today that the company and Fernandes would fully cooperate with the respective authorities in India in the latter’s investigation.

“If and when any such notice is received through formal and official channels, then in accordance with the sovereign laws of Malaysia, we will abide by the due process of the letter of the law,” AirAsia said.