CRPF head constable held in Bengaluru for smoking beedi inside Indigo flight

The cabin crew of the Kolkata-Bengaluru flight allegedly detected a burning odour while Karunakaran J was using the toilet. They found evidence of a beedi having been smoked and a matchbox in his possession, the police complaint said.

The flight captain deemed Karunakaran an unruly passenger, and upon landing at KIA, security officials took him into custody and filed a formal police complaint.

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A 37-year-old Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) head constable was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for allegedly smoking a beedi in the toilet of a Kolkata-Bengaluru IndiGo flight on Sunday.

Karunakaran J, a CRPF head constable stationed in Jharkhand, was arrested after Puneeth B M, the duty manager of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, lodged a complaint against him with the KIA police.

According to the complaint, Karunakaran, who was on board IndiGo flight 6E-487 that departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 9.30 pm on September 3, had used the aircraft toilet. The cabin crew allegedly detected a burning odour emanating from the vicinity of the toilet. After Karunakaran stepped out, the crew inspected the toilet and discovered evidence of a beedi having been smoked. They also found a matchbox in Karunakaran’s possession, the complaint said.

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Consequently, the flight captain deemed Karunakaran an unruly passenger, and upon landing at KIA, security officials took him into custody and filed a formal police complaint.

A senior police officer revealed that Karunakaran had been visiting Bengaluru for medical treatment, citing health concerns as a possible factor for his behaviour. A case was registered against Karunakaran under Section 336 (endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as under The Aircraft Rules.

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