Shiv Sena MP hits 60-year-old Air India staffer with slippers ‘25 times’ on board Pune-Delhi flight

Mangalore Today News Network

Mar 23, 2017: High drama was witnessed in an Air India plane soon after it landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Thursday morning as Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad hit a 60-year-old Air India staffer with slippers.

 

The MP was allegedly angry because of change of seats from business to economy.

“Incident was reported from Air India flight AI 852 (Pune-Delhi), in which MP Ravindra Gaikwad was travelling. The flight landed around 10 am but the MP refused to deboard. When the airline security staff was called and he got angry and started beating them with slippers,” said an airport source.

The staffer has been identified as R Sukumar, a 60-year-old duty manager.

ANI reported Gaikwad as saying that he hit the staff “25 times”.

“What did he (the AI official) say...Yes, I beat him with a sandal 25 times. Should I tolerate abuses from the media, from the company (Air India) just because I am an MP?,” Gaikwad told ANI.

“I told him (the official) that I have given a complaint to the air-hostess, you should refer to that. I am not going to repeat my complaint to whoever comes to ask about it. I asked him to call a senior who could resolve the issue but he said no, I will look into it,” the Shiv Sena MP said.

”I slapped him...Should I hear abuses from everyone. I am from Shiv Sena not BJP. Let him complain to anyone. I will give my complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker,” the MP said.

An Air India official said that the MP was booked in business class but the airline changed the flight to an all-economy aircraft. MP’s personal secretary in Delhi was informed about the change of aircraft and offered that he could cancel the booking.

But the MP reached Pune airport and boarded the plane.

“The duty manager R Sukumar, 60, was called and he started convincing him. The MP started shouting at him, snatched his glasses and pushed him to the ground. He fell down and the MP started beating him with slippers. The airport manager, a former hockey player, rushed and saved him,” said an Air India official.

Sukumar has filed a complaint. “We have formed a committee to probe the matter and appropriate action will be taken after the report,” said a Air India spokesperson.