CISF has denied the allegations against it in the case of assault at Delhi airport. file photo
Jagran correspondent, New Delhi. A passenger, Ankit Dewan, has alleged that Captain Sejwal assaulted him at Delhi Airport Terminal 1. He told that he was traveling with his family. The administration has taken this matter seriously, and the accused Captain has also issued a statement.
CISF refutes the allegations
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), deployed for the security of the airport, has issued an official statement denying the allegations of not getting help to the victim. He told that before the incident, CISF had sent him to the crew security lane for help, where he had an argument with the pilot.
CISF officials helped the victim and advised him to lodge a formal complaint, but the passenger voluntarily refused to do so, and it was recorded in writing at that time. Therefore, allegations of any inaction or delay on the part of the security forces are baseless.
Captain Sejwal's statement said that the incident was resolved in the presence of CISF officers. "Both parties 'voluntarily signed a statement' confirming that they did not wish to take any legal action. Contrary to misleading claims, Mr Ankit Dewan signed on his own free will, there was no coercion or pressure."
He further said that 'casteist comments, incomprehensible threats' are also being received.
Let us tell you that the case of alleged assault on a passenger by an Air India Express pilot at Terminal 1 of the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) has become a topic of discussion on social media. However, the surprising thing is that the victim Ankit Diwan expressed his pain on social media and shared pictures, but even after 24 hours of the incident, he has not given any formal written complaint in this regard to Delhi Police.
Victim Ankit Diwan has told in a social media post that on December 19, he was traveling by SpiceJet flight with his family and 4-month-old innocent child. He told that because of the stroller and the child, he was sent to the staff security line.
Ankit alleges that the off-duty pilot of Air India Express, Captain Virendra Sejwal, present there was breaking the queue. When Ankit objected to this, Pilot insulted him by calling him illiterate and punched him on the face, leaving him bleeding.
Ankit Dewan, in his statement shared on social media, made a serious allegation that after the incident, he was pressurized not to pursue the case further. According to Ankit, he was intimidated by saying that if he faced legal action or police trouble, his flight and booking worth Rs 1.10 lakh could be lost to go on a tour with his family.
Due to this pressure, he could not file a formal complaint at that time. Now he has appealed to the DGCA and the police to keep the CCTV footage safe. Delhi Police is waiting for the written complaint. On the other hand, DCP IGI Airport, Vichitra Veer has clarified that this matter has come to the notice of the police only through social media posts. He said on Saturday that neither the victim Ankit Diwan nor the airline has given any written report to the police station till now. He says that as soon as a written complaint is received from the victim, appropriate legal action will be taken immediately.
The airline suspended the pilot
As soon as the matter gained momentum, Air India Express took immediate action and suspended the accused pilot Virendra Sejwal with immediate effect. The airline has expressed regret over the incident and has started an investigation. According to the information, the pilot was not on duty at the time of the incident and was traveling on a flight of another airline as a passenger.
Rules regarding security at Indian airports
According to security regulations at Indian airports, off-duty pilots can use the crew security lane only when they are in uniform and on duty for another flight. If they are traveling as ordinary passengers (civil dress), they have to compulsorily use the standard security lane like other passengers. Whereas in this incident, the accused pilot was off duty and was in civil attire and was going to travel by flight of some other airline. Then I was attempting to enter through the crew security lane using my BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) issued AEP card (Airport Entry Pass).
Also read: I bled, my 7 year old daughter was in shock... Pilot beats passenger at Delhi airport