The Indian Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has subpoenaed seven individuals, reportedly including Airbus Executive Vice-President Kiran Rao, for questioning related to the alleged money laundering at Indian Airlines (Delhi International) back in 2005, the Economic Times has written.

The notices relate to a deal for forty-three A320 Family aircraft ordered by the state-owned Indian Airlines for INR40 billion rupees (USD1 billion).

The Central Bureau of Investigation launched a probe into the deal in 2013, suspecting corruption and undue preference given to Airbus over the competitors. India-born Rao himself was questioned in London in 2014, but no allegations were made against him at that time.

The ED, a law enforcement and economic intelligence agency, is a part of India's Ministry of Finance and as such is controlled by the executive branch of the government. In turn, the CBI, who conducted the earlier investigation, is an independent investigative agency.

Indian Airlines merged with also state-owned Air India (AI, Delhi International) in 2007.