Seeking to quash the Air India disinvestment process and set aside the approvals given to it by authorities, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has approached the Delhi High Court with a petition.

Meanwhile, the High Court will on Thursday pronounce its decision on the plea challenging the debt-laden state-run Air India’s disinvestment process.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, who heard the petition on Tuesday said, “We will pass orders the day after,” while also asking the parties involved in the case to submit their written responses by Wednesday.

Swamy, a Rajya Sabha MP, has sought to set aside and revoke any action or decision or grant of any further approvals, permissions or permits by the authorities with respect to the present Air India disinvestment process.

With the help of advocate Satya Sabarwal, Swamy has also sought for a CBI investigation into the role and functioning of authorities and submission of a detailed report to the court.

In October 2021, Tata Sons won the bid for 100 per cent equity shares of Air India and Air India Express along with its 50 per cent stake in ground-handling company AISATS -- the first privatisation in 20 years. Tatas beat the ₹15,100 crore offer by a consortium led by Spicejet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of ₹12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier.

On October 25 last year, the government had signed the share purchase agreement with Tata Sons for the sale of national carrier Air India for ₹18,000 crore. Tatas would pay ₹2,700 crore cash and take over ₹13,500 crore of the airline’s debt.

As of August 31, 2021, Air India had a total debt of ₹61,562 crore. 75 percent of this debt or ₹46,262 crore will be transferred to a special purpose vehicle AIAHL before handing over the airline to the Tata group.