Political leaders voice support for AI airhostess

Singh also visited the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday to record her statement as the commission is also conducting an inquiry into the incident.

“The pilot and co-pilot were arrested and released immediately yesterday. Also,I have come to know that they have been given ‘clean chit’ by the airline management,” Azad told reporters at a press conference at Constitution Club.

Azad and Singh feel the police has been lenient with accused.

The BJP MP also said he has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to “take up the issue at a personal level”. He also asked the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to take action against the pilots for leaving the cockpit unmanned,risking the lives of passengers and crew.

Singh’s uncle,Sanjay Jain,was also present at the press conference.

In his letter to the Prime Minister,Azad raised several questions about the October 3 incident. He has asked why Captain Ranbir Arora did not inform ATC,BCAS,DGCA,CISF or any other agency soon after landing in Lucknow or why he didn’t divert the flight to Delhi.

The airhostess had lodged a police complaint on the day of the incident,while a case was registered on October 7 under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt),354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty),509 (word,gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (common intention). It was also alleged that the two pilots had assaulted flight purser Amit Khanna.

Air India had suspended Arora and Khanna,while the airhostess and Chopra were chargesheeted and de-rostered. Chopra and Arora were arrested yesterday and were later released on bail.