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Offender may be put on no-fly list after probe: Jayant Sinha
P L Uniyal. Dated: 12/11/2017 3:56:13 PM
NCW issues notice to Air Vistara
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: As the row over alleged molestation of a national award-winning teenage actor on a flight intensifies, MoS Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha on Sunday urged the actor to cooperate with Air Vistara so that the airline could put the male passenger on a no-fly list if he is found guilty.
In the meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Sunday condemned the alleged on board harassment of Bollywood actress Zaira Wasim and took suo moto cognisance of the matter.
The man accused in alleged molestation of the teenage actor has been apprehended and detained by the Mumbai Police.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had also sought details from Air Vistara over the incident.
Recently, India introduced the no-fly list in its aviation sector. It is compiled and executed by the Director General of Civil aviation (DGCA).
A case has been registered under Section 354 and POCSO Act as the actor is a minor, and the Maharashtra Police has recorded a statement of the teenager.
Speaking to media, the acting chairperson of NCW, Rekha Sharma, said, "Air Vistara hasn't sensitised their crew to take action against men torturing women on flight. I am taking suo moto cognisance of this and giving a notice to Air Vistara."
"I would like to ask Air Vistara if they have zero tolerance towards such behaviour, why they have not named this person till now. Naming them is very important. We would like to tell Zaira that we are there to help her out in any way we can," she added.
She also said, "I just saw the video on Instagram and my heart goes out to her. I am really horrified the way this incident happened and after that the crew didn't help this girl. That was very shocking."
Swati Maliwal, the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), also condemned the incident. "The flight was from Delhi to Mumbai, this is subjected to our jurisdiction. We have even issued a notice to Air Vistara and asked for details of that man," said Maliwal.
The incident came to light when Zaira shared the ordeal she had to go through en route Mumbai in the flight in an Instagram story.
“We have submitted an initial incident report to the DGCA, and have also submitted all necessary details to the Police. Members of our senior management have flown to Mumbai to meet her and assist in the investigation process,” said Air Vistara on the alleged molestation.
Earlier, Vistara chief strategy and commercial officer Sanjiv Kapoor condemned the incident and insisted that the airline has zero tolerance for such behaviour.
Meanwhile, MSCW has also called for an investigation into the airline staff’s behaviour and not helping the actor. “The incident is shameful. MSCW will direct DGCA to conduct an inquiry into the matter. We will inquire into the steps taken by Vistara to address the complaint. There should be an inquiry about why the cabin crew did not help her. We have directed the Mumbai Police to look into the matter immediately. It is sad that none of the co-passengers came ahead to help her. We are with her, and will ensure she gets justice,” MSCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said.
Taking note of the incident, the airline has ordered a detailed investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the airline also apologised, adding Zaira started yelling at the accused passenger only during the descent of the flight, due to which the cabin crew couldn't move because it's mandatory to have no movement during the final phase of the flight as seat belts are on.