Was manhandled, abused by Air India employee: Gaikwad says in defence

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday said he had been "abused and manhandled" by an Air India official during his controversial flight last month when he had beaten a flight officer with his footwear, and offered to apologise for his behaviour but not to the 60-year-old Air India official.

Gaikwad, who had confessed to hitting an Air India duty manager for not being given a business class seat, said in the House that on the day of the incident (March 23) he was made to travel in economy class despite having a business class ticket.

He said after the Pune-Delhi flight landed in the national capital, he asked for the complaint register. "Then an officer came, then two or three more officers came.. When I said that I was a politician, one of them said 'But you are not Narendra Modi. Are you?'" said the Shiv Sena MP, giving his version of the incident.

He alleged he was pushed around by the airlines staff and then one of them held him "by the collar".

"There is video evidence of the entire incident, thanks to the air hostess of the same airlines... I am staring at a ban across all airlines," Gaikwad said and claimed that the charges against him are "unfounded" and should be taken back.

"I have been charged under IPC 308, which is for 'attempt to murder'. Was I holding any weapon?.. Is this justice," he added.

Gaikwad had hit R. Sukumar for not being given a business class seat on an all-economy flight, and was slapped with a flight ban across all airlines.

--IANS

vn/sid/rn