Rogue Sena MP thrashes 60yrold AI staffer with sandal 25 times
Air India blacklists Osmanabad MP, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray summons Gaikwad to Mumbai
NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad allegedly assaulted a 60-year-old Air India staffer with a sandal aboard a PuneDelhi flight on Thursday morning, soon after it landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Gaikwad, 56, reportedly lashed out at duty manager R Sukumar because Air India “forced” him to travel by economy class, instead of business.
Sukumar has filed a complaint against the MP with the Delhi police. Air India also launched an inquiry into the incident.
Sources said Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has summoned Gaikwad to Mumbai. The MP was expected to leave Delhi at 7 pm to meet him at his Bandra residence.
Speaking to ANI, the parliamentarian said: “What did he (the AI official) say? Yes, I beat him with a sandal 25 times. Should I tolerate abuse… just because I am an MP?”
RAVINDRA GAIKWAD, 56, REPORTEDLY LASHED OUT AT DUTY MANAGER R SUKUMAR BECAUSE AIR INDIA ‘FORCED’ HIM TO TRAVEL BY ECONOMY CLASS, INSTEAD OF BUSINESS
The Lok Sabha MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra said he was annoyed by Sukumar’s unwillingness to summon a senior official at his insistence. “I am from the Shiv Sena, not BJP. Let him complain to anyone. I will give my complaint to the Lok Sabha speaker,” he added.
According to an official, Gaikwad had booked a seat in Air India’s business class section. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, airline authorities had to employ an all-economy aircraft instead. The MP’s personal secretary was informed about the development, and offered the option of cancelling the ticket.
Gaikwad, nevertheless, boarded the plane from Pune airport. When it reached Delhi at 10 am, he refused to deboard.
“The duty manager tried to convince him, but the MP snatched his glasses and pushed him to the ground. Then he began hitting him with a sandal,” an official said.
Air India reacted by threatening to blacklist the parliamentarian. Airline chief Ashwini Lohani also directed staffers to lodge police complaints without waiting for approvals in case of misbehaviour by passengers.
Sukumar stated in his complaint that Gaikwad used “foul language” against him. “God save our country if this is the culture and behaviour of our MPs… When I spoke to him in English, he told me to speak in Hindi. When I spoke in Hindi, he started using foul language,” he said.
The Shiv Sena said it does not encourage such behaviour. “All public representatives should behave politely. But, having said that, we will seek the other side of the story from Gaikwad,” said party MP Anil Desai.