In a major embarrassment for Air India, the national carrier of India, placed one of its senior-most commanders under immediate suspension on Saturday.
Captain Rohit Bhasin who worked as the regional director for eastern India was suspended after he was allegedly caught shoplifting a card case wallet from a duty-free store at Sydney Airport on June 22.
The 57-year-old pilot who has held various senior positions within the airline in a career spanning over three decades, was scheduled to command the AI flight 301 from Sydney to Delhi later that day.
The decision to suspend was taken following a report by the Regional Manager-Australasia a little after Captain Bhasin reportedly committed the alleged theft, according to the suspension order.
"Without prejudice to any disciplinary action to be initiated against you and pending enquiry, you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," the order stated.
Confirming the suspension, Air India spokesperson told news agency ANI that “Air India lays the highest stress on the proper conduct of its staff and has a zero-tolerance policy towards acts of impropriety.”
He added that Air India had initiated an inquiry into the matter.
The senior pilot was also instructed not to enter the premises of Air India or leave his designated station, Kolkata, without permission of the management, and asked to return his company identity documents.
Captain Bhasin denies allegations:
In an interview with The Telegraph, Captain Bhasin has refuted the allegations, calling the incident a ‘misunderstanding’.
He told the newspaper that he had handed over both the jacket and the said wallet to the woman at the counter, but he failed to notice that he had not been billed for one of the items.
Mr Bhasin added that he was ‘overwhelmed with joy’ at the time, as he had just received a call from his wife informing him that he had become a grandfather, reported The Telegraph.
Background:
Captain Bhasin, who had joined Air India as a pilot in 1986, had taken over as the regional director of the flagship carrier’s eastern division three years ago.
In the past, he has also served as the airline’s General Manager of Operations in the Western Region, Eastern Region and in the headquarters.
He was one of the youngest pilots to train in and operate the Boeing 747 and has also commanded the ultra long-haul Boeing 777 aircraft, besides many other VVIP flights, according to a press release issued by the airline at the time of his appointment as regional director in 2016.
He was also among the first to command Boeing 787 Dreamliners and has operated almost all wide-bodied aircraft the national carrier has been flying, the statement had added.
Captain Bhasin hails from a family of pilots, with his father having worked as one of the longest serving pilots in the erstwhile Indian Airlines.
His wife and children are also professional pilots.
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