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NEW DELHI: Former Civil Aviation Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav on Friday questioned the reported security clearance given "overnight" by the United Progressive Alliance Government to Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal.

The clearance to Mr. Goyal, an NRI, was pending for several years due to unfavourable reports from intelligence agencies against him, Mr. Yadav said, demanding that he be detained for further investigations.

On June 20, he wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting him not to approve security clearance for Mr. Goyal in the light of adverse remarks by intelligence agencies during the National Democratic Alliance rule.

He said there were intelligence reports about the "dubious origins" of his investments. Asked why the NDA Government did not take action, he said the matter was under investigation.

Addressing a press conference here, he demanded that the Union Home Ministry make public its so-called confidential reports from intelligence agencies, on the basis of which "unfavourable circumstances" became "favourable" overnight, just around the deadline for the take-over deal with Air Sahara.

Mr. Goyal was reportedly given security clearance to head the board of Air Sahara after the take-over bid fell through.

Mr. Yadav said he had learnt that Mr. Goyal was not cooperating with intelligence agencies. "I demand that a case be filed and he should be arrested so that he can be interrogated about his dubious links as reported by intelligence agencies during the NDA rule.

Police had arrested Manikchand Gutka on account of his reported links with the underworld. Why are double standards being adopted in the case of Mr. Goyal? There should be transparency about the decision.''

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