The Ernakulam Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the Go First insolvency case against the airline's former board of directors, an unnamed Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official, online travel platforms EaseMyTrip and Cleartrip, and the airline's Resolution Professional.
The FIR relates to allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust arising from the alleged continuation of ticket sales after the airline had initiated voluntary insolvency proceedings.
FIR Registered Following Court Directions
The FIR was registered on July 9, 2026, under Sections 406, 415 and 420 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police records, the FIR follows directions issued by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Ernakulam on a complaint filed by aviation safety activist and advocate Yeshwant Shenoy.
The complaint alleges that passengers continued purchasing tickets despite the airline already deciding to initiate insolvency proceedings.
Timeline of Insolvency Proceedings
According to the complaint:
- April 28, 2023 – Go First's Board resolved to initiate insolvency proceedings.
- April 30, 2023 – Shareholders approved the proposal during an Extraordinary General Meeting.
- May 2, 2023 – Insolvency application was filed before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
- Ticket bookings allegedly continued until May 10, 2023.
- Several booked flights were subsequently cancelled.
Investigators are examining whether ticket sales continued despite knowledge of the impending suspension of operations.
Individuals and Entities Named in FIR
The FIR names several individuals and organisations, including:
- Former Chairman Nusli Neville Wadia
- Director Ness Nusli Wadia
- Former CEO Kaushik Khona
- Other directors serving during the relevant period
- An unidentified DGCA official
- EaseMyTrip
- Cleartrip
- Resolution Professional Shailendra Ajmera
The allegations remain under investigation.
Passenger Loss Alleged
The complainant stated that he personally suffered a financial loss of approximately ₹64,000 after booking Kochi–Mumbai tickets for family members and friends on the same day the airline filed its insolvency application.
According to the complaint, despite repeated communications with the aviation regulator regarding continued ticket sales, the DGCA directed the airline to stop advance bookings only on May 10, following intervention by the Kerala High Court.
DGCA's Role Also Under Scrutiny
The complaint further alleges that the aviation regulator failed to act despite awareness of Go First's financial condition.
It also refers to the regulator's actions during SpiceJet's 2014 financial crisis, when advance bookings were reportedly restricted to protect passenger interests.
Investigators are expected to examine whether regulatory actions taken in the Go First case were timely and consistent with earlier practices.
Passenger Dues Under Investigation
According to the complaint:
- Go First reportedly stated that 4,118 flights were cancelled during April 2023.
- Approximately 77,500 passengers were affected.
- Media reports estimated passenger dues at around ₹900 crore.
The complainant, however, has alleged that total passenger collections could have reached nearly ₹2,000 crore, claiming ticket sales continued for several additional days.
Authorities are examining booking records, payment data and transaction timelines to verify these claims.
Investigation Focus
Investigators are expected to scrutinise:
- Board resolutions
- Regulatory communications
- Booking records
- Payment transactions
- Insolvency timelines
- Internal decision-making
- Actions of booking platforms
- Regulatory responses
The objective is to determine whether any procedural violations or criminal liability arose from the alleged continuation of ticket sales.
Consumer Protection Concerns
The case has also highlighted broader issues relating to advance consumer payments made through online travel booking platforms during periods of corporate financial distress.
Industry observers note that timely disclosure, regulatory coordination and prompt suspension of bookings are critical safeguards where airlines face insolvency or operational uncertainty.
Conclusion
The Go First insolvency FIR marks another significant development in the airline's legal proceedings.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations contained in the FIR have not yet been tested before a court. No findings of guilt have been recorded against any of the accused at this stage.
Shunyatax Global Insight
Shunyatax Global says that insolvency proceedings involving consumer-facing businesses require transparent communication, timely regulatory intervention and robust safeguards for advance customer payments. Businesses, regulators and digital booking platforms should establish coordinated protocols to suspend bookings promptly when operational continuity becomes uncertain, thereby reducing financial exposure for consumers and strengthening confidence in digital commerce.