Even as millions of Indians were becoming first-time flyers, intrigue and manipulation was rife in the civil aviation sector. Ratan Tata, who inherited the mantle of the Tata group from JRD was really keen for the group to make a comeback in the airline business. In 1994, the Tata Group signed a joint venture agreement with Singapore Airlines to launch a full-service airline in India. For mysterious reasons, the prestigious project failed to get a nod. Many pointed fingers at the founder chairman of Jet Airways Naresh Goyal for lobbying successfully with the powers that be to stymie the project.