Ex-Jet official recalls spat with Rane man

But Kumar, formerly of the Mechanised Infantry, resurfaced angrily yesterday.

He heard what Jet Airways had to say about him in their attempt to defend their apology to Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma and he’s shocked.

‘‘Jet executive director Saroj Datta has openly stated to the media not once but twice that I was sacked because of incompetence,’’ Kumar told The Indian Express from his home in Thiruvananthapuram. ‘‘So if I was so bad at work, why did I receive so many congratulatory notes from my seniors, not to forget the Merit Award for excellent performance?’’ Kumar recently filed a case of defamation and is also seeking compensation from Jet Airways at the Thiruvananthapuram District Court.

‘‘I stand by my press statement that Lt Col Kumar was dismissed due to his poor performance,’’ Saroj Datta insisted when contacted.

Kumar joined Jet Airways in 1999 and was promoted to area manager of security (South region) within three years. In August 2002, he received the company’s Merit Award for excellent performance. But, just a few days later, he was sacked abruptly.

According to Kumar, it was that one incident in August 2002 when he rubbed Rane the wrong way that led to his dismissal from service.

Asked how Kumar’s performance could be poor if he had received a merit award, Datta said: ‘‘Performance of an employee can change from time to time and Kumar’s performance was assessed by his departmental heads.’’ He repeated that Kumar’s dismissal had nothing to do with the August 2002 incident at Chennai airport.

To this, Kumar asked: ‘‘Were it not the same departmental heads who had recommended me for the Merit Certificate on August 26, 2002?’’ On August 26 last year, Kumar received the Merit Award and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 for exemplary performance in the year 2001-02.