India to offer indemnity to flag carrier bidder over Cairn claim

India is set to absolve bidders for its loss-making flag carrier from any liability arising out of a lawsuit filed by Cairn Energy, which has claimed the state-run airline’s assets over a long-running tax dispute with the government, according to people familiar with the matter. PM Narendra Modi’s administration will offer so-called indemnity to the financial bidders of Air India Ltd., which the government has repeatedly tried to sell without success, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is confidential. In the latest attempt, a group of bureaucrats cleared a final sale purchase agreement on Saturday, and that plan is likely to be approved by a group of ministers this week, they said. The government expects to receive financial bids by Sept. 15, junior Civil Aviation Minister VK Singh told parliament in July. Air India, unprofitable since a 2007 merger with state-owned domestic operator Indian Airlines Ltd, has total debt of 600b rupees ($8.2b) and loses 200m rupees every day, straining government finances even as the South Asian nation’s budget deficit widens. Potential bidders for the airline -- identified by local media as conglomerate Tata Group and the owner of local budget carrier SpiceJet -- may welcome any assurance from the government on not having to encounter any surprises on further liabilities. <br/>