In the backdrop of a controversy over the Jet-Etihad deal, Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday, possibly to discuss deal.

Sources said that Mr. Goyal discussed the Rs 2,058-crore stake sale deal during the meeting with the finance minister at North Block, though the airline chief didn't disclose anything about the meeting.

The meeting took place as a section of political parties are objecting to the sale of 24 per cent of stake in Jet Airways to Etihad for Rs 2,058 crore, saying it isn't in the interests of the nations.

The very start of the deal led to quite a flutter due to a curious coincidence. On the very same day of the deal, the government increased air traffic rights with Abu Dhabi by around threefold to 36,670 seats per week. Etihad would be the biggest beneficiary of the decision.

Senior CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, who is also the chairman of the standing committee on transport, tourism & culture, alleged that the government had tweaked national policy in order to facilitate the private deal.

Capital market regulator Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) are currently scrutinizing the stake sale deal, and have asked the company to clarify the shareholding pattern of the deal.

The FIPB recently deferred its decision on the Jet-Etihad deal, saying it required more clarity on control and ownership structure of the proposed merged entity.