Kamra notice to IndiGo seeks apology, `25 lakh
New Delhi, Feb. 1: Days after IndiGo banned Kunal Kamra for a sixmonth period for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami on a flight, the comedian has sent a legal notice to the airline demanding an unconditional apology, revocation of the ban and `25 lakh compensation.
In the notice sent to the airline on Friday, Mr Kamra’s lawyer stated that his client has suffered “mental pain and agony” due to “illegal, arbitrary and high-handed decision” of the airline.
Mr Kamra was banned by IndiGo for six months on Tuesday for allegedly harassing the Republic TV Editor on its MumbaiLucknow flight.
As Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri advised other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the comedian, SpiceJet, GoAir and Air India imposed a similar ban on him without specifying any period. However, two airlines of the Tata group — Vistara and AirAsia India — have stated that they are “reviewing” the matter.
An IndiGo statement on Saturday said, “The company will duly respond to any legal notice that it receives in relation to this matter.” Mr Kamra has given IndiGo one week’s time to respond to the legal notice.
While aviation regulator DGCA had on Wednesday stated that the action by the four carriers is in
“complete consonance” with its regulations, the pilot-in-command of the Mumbai-Lucknow flight had told IndiGo management on Thursday that Kamra’s actions were “unsavoury” but not “unruly” and this incident was not “reportable in any way”.
Hours after the captain’s letter to his management became public on Thursday, the Aviation minister justified IndiGo’s action, stating that airlines must ensure ‘zero tolerance’ for any activity that has the potential to jeopardize passengers’ safety.
In the legal notice to IndiGo’s CEO Ronojoy Dutta, Kamra’s lawyer Prashant Sivarajan said that Goswami — against whom Kamra's “exchanges” were directed — neither made any complaint nor requested the intervention of the cabin crew at any point of time during the flight.
Kamra first came to know about his ban through the airline's post on Twitter on Tuesday night, Sivarajan said.