SENA MP Brawl: AI staffers present their version of events
Gaikwad had refused to board, holding up the aircraft for over 40 minutes. The MP has been barred from flying all major domestic airlines as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police crime branch on Monday reached the IGI airport to record the statements of the Air India staff in connection with the Shiv Sena MP Gaikwad brawl that took place on March 23.
Under the supervision of DCP crime Dr. Gopal Naik, the Crime team recorded the statements of 60-year-old duty manager Sukumar along with 15 other employees related to the incident.
The Air India employee who filmed the brawl on his mobile after which it went viral also gave his statement to the police. The cops have also taken the video footage of the incident in which allegedly Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad is seen manhandling the duty manager. Later in the footage, a female AI employee was seen pacifying the furious Gaikwad.
“We have recorded the statement of 15 employees connected with the incident. We are going to examine the footage and decide our next course of action,” said a senior police officer. The crime team which reached IGI at around 11 am left after spending six hours at the airport.
The 57-year-old MP on March 23 had allegedly abused and assaulted a 60-year-old duty manager of Air India R Sukumar with slippers for not being able to fly business class despite having boarded an all-economy Pune-new Delhi flight.
Gaikwad had refused to board, holding up the aircraft for over 40 minutes. The MP has been barred from flying all major domestic airlines as he refused to apologise for the incident that triggered nationwide outrage.
The official was allegedly hit with sandals when he persuaded the MP to disembark after the plane landed at the IGI airport from Pune. Following this, two FIRS were registered against him by the Delhi police on the basis of the complaint lodged by Air India. The case was registered under IPC 308 and 355 and was transferred to Crime branch.
The cops will now examine the footage and accordingly decide their next course of action.
Supporters of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who assaulted an Air India staffer in Delhi last week, called for a bandh in Osmanabad's district on Monday to protest his ‘humiliation' over the incident.