FORMER RUSSIAN MINISTER CAUGHT WITH SAT PHONE AT DOON AIRPORT

A former Russian minister was caught by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel with a prohibited satellite phone during a security check at the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun on Sunday, according a CISF complaint to the police.

According to the CISF staff, Victor Semenov (64), agriculture and food minister of the Russian Federation from 1998 to 1999, was supposed to travel to Delhi by an Indigo flight whose boarding time was 5.30 pm, and he approached for security check at 4.20 pm.

“While screening his handbag, a CISF staffer observed a satellite phone-like image on the screen of the monitor of the X-ray machine. Hence, he referred the handbag for a physical check. When the handbag was referred for physical check in Semenov’s presence, the bag checking officer, Kumari Nisha, found an iridium satellite phone in switched-off condition,” the complaint stated.

The CISF staff then asked the passenger about the satellite phone and valid documents, but he could not produce any valid documents to carry the same with him and stated that it was being carried by him for personnel use in an emergency, the FIR mentioned.

According to officials, the use of satellite phones other than BSNL-provided Inmarsat Satellite handset (ISAT Phone) in India is unlawful.

After completing all formalities, the Russian national’s boarding pass was cancelled and was subsequently handed over to the Dehradun police for legal action and

Rajesh Sah, in-charge at Doiwala police station, said the CISF personnel at Jolly Grant Airport informed that they have caught a Russian national with an iridium satellite phone following which we took him into our custody.