Sahib Singh’s rage in Mumbai leads to inquiry at jet speed

It was done reportedly at the behest of Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Husain. Verma had told The Indian Express in the Capital: ‘‘These allegations are totally false. In fact Jet Airways head Naresh Goyal called me up more than once from London to apologise to me.’’

‘‘If it was a common man instead of the minister, such a top-level inquiry would not have happened and any other person throwing tantrums in flight would have been taken in police custody,’’ said a member of airline pilots association in Mumbai, wishing that he not be named.

The airline’s reaction is even more bizarre: ‘‘The management of Jet Airways regrets and sincerely apologises for the discourteous behaviour of its staff,’’ stated a Jet Airways press release.

Though the Jet Airways staff in Mumbai are not commenting if this has demoralised them, they are also not denying the ministerial rage. Jet Airways customer relations manager Minal Naik told The Indian Express today: ‘‘There is no pressure or harassment on us from the management. So we are not being victimised at all.’’ She, however, added: ‘‘Yes, he (Verma) did push me angrily inside the plane but we cannot stop working because of one incident. There is absolutely no resentment among the Jet staff.’’