CAG Flags ₹2.07 Crore Waste as Maharashtra's Anti-Naxal Helicopter Remained Unused

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up the Maharashtra government over delays in appointing a maintenance agency for an ₹82.78-crore helicopter procured for anti-Naxalite operations, stating that the lapse kept the aircraft grounded for more than 17 months and resulted in an avoidable expenditure of ₹2.07 crore .

The findings were detailed in the Compliance Audit Report 2024 , tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on July 10 . According to the audit, the state's Directorate of Aviation took nearly 10 months to appoint a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agency after the helicopter was delivered.

The Airbus H145 helicopter , purchased from Airbus Helicopters, Germany , was acquired in July 2019 to support anti-Naxalite operations in Gadchiroli and adjoining regions. It was delivered on September 18, 2019 , and successfully completed its acceptance test flight a week later. However, the CAG noted that the helicopter could not be operated without a valid airworthiness certificate and mandatory maintenance by a DGCA-approved MRO agency. As no maintenance contract had been finalised, the aircraft was placed under short-term preservation soon after delivery.

The audit said Indamer Aviation Pvt Ltd was appointed as the MRO agency only on July 13, 2020 . Since the helicopter had remained without the required maintenance for several months, it had to undergo Return to Service (RTS) procedures before becoming operational again. The RTS process alone cost the state ₹2.07 crore , an expense the CAG described as avoidable. The helicopter received its airworthiness certificate on December 2, 2020 , and was finally inducted into service on February 19, 2021 , nearly one year and five months after its delivery.

The CAG observed that the delay reflected inadequate planning and weak contract management within the Directorate of Aviation. It noted that the helicopter remained unavailable during a critical period despite being procured specifically to strengthen anti-Naxalite operations. The audit further stated that the Directorate of Aviation did not respond to the audit observations despite repeated reminders issued after the matter was raised in July 2024 . The issue was subsequently referred to the Maharashtra government in September 2025 , but its response was still awaited when the report was finalised.