Founding chairman Naresh Goyal is making all efforts to not let go of the airline he set up over 25 years ago and is learnt to have submitted an expression of interest for buying a stake in Jet Airways minutes before the deadline, sources close to the development told CNBC-TV18.

It still couldn't be ascertained as to which are the parties with whom Goyal has teamed up for buying the stake in the carrier.

People close to Goyal have often called him a man with tricks up his sleeve. In fact, even after he stepped down as chairman of the airline on March 25, he had been frantically meeting potential partners to get back the control of the airline, sources said.

Other than Goyal, five more parties are expected to have submitted the expression of interest for buying the stake in the beleaguered carrier, which needs over Rs 10,000 crore to revive operations.

The deadline for submission of buying up to 75 percent stake in Jet Airways ended today at 6: 00 PM and SBI Capital Markets Ltd is expected to soon issue a statement on the outcome of the expression of interest stage.

First Published:Apr 12, 2019 11:20 PM IST