After bitter exit, GoAir former CEO charged with data theft by airline

Wolfgang Prock Schauer's lawyer says he is being made a scapegoat

Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, who quit GoAir as its chief executive officer following differences with its promoters, has been accused of data theft.

Within weeks of Prock-Schauer's joining rival IndiGo as its chief operating officer in January-end, GoAir filed a suit in the Bombay High Court against him.

In its plea, GoAir has sought to restrain Prock-Schauer from disclosing confidential information and from poaching its employees. IndiGo has not been named as a defendant in the suit, which will be heard in June.

GoAir declined comment. Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas who is representing Prock-Schauer said he has been made a scapegoat in a fight between two competitors.

“IndiGo has been made aware of the court proceedings brought by GoAir against  Wolfgang Prock-Schauer; these concern allegations that predate his employment by IndiGo. We have no involvement in this case, thus IndiGo has no further comment to make,” the airline said in a statement.

Austrian national Prock-Schauer who previously headed Jet Airways, joined GoAir as its CEO in 2015. His contract with the airline was to expire in June but he quit a few months in advance. It was not a happy parting.

"There were differences between him and the promoters on strategy and way forward for GoAir," say sources.  

The company had begun realigning management structure last year ahead of Prock-Schauer's departure and he was being virtually sidelined, the sources added.

Roles like network planning and revenue management were brought under chief commercial officer Anand Sahai. Sahai also quit the airline late last year.

An Economic Times report in February said that Wadias, promoters of GoAir, were upset with Prock Schauer over hiring of foreign pilots as this inflated the airline's salary bill.