The Ministry of Home Affairs is unlikely to give security clearance to new Air India CEO Ilker Ayci due to his alleged connections with various global terror networks, including al-Qaeda. How the Tata group chose an alleged terror financier to head Air India is a mystery and shows the lack of due diligence taken by Bombay House, say top BJP leaders who want to avert any embarrassment to the Centre over the issue.

Ayci's alleged terror connections were first flagged by Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, who questioned the Centre's silence in the matter. The government on the other hand was waiting for an application from the Tatas for security clearance for Ayci.

As per Turkish media reports, Ayci, former chairman of the Turkish Investment Support and Promotion Agency (ISPAT) and current chairman of the board of directors of Turkish Airlines (THY), promoted private investments and ventures by a former alleged al-Qaeda financier known as Yasin al-Qadi. His alleged terror links were unearthed following an investigation by a Turkish anti-corruption court. Ayci is also a long-time associate of Turkish President Recep Erdogan. The disturbing development shows that the Tatas' 'opaque' hiring policies certainly need a closer look.