NEW DELHI: Ankit Dewan, who has alleged assault by an Air India Express pilot at Delhi Airport, said on Monday that his recent CT scan showed a “displaced fracture of left nasal bone,” and hoped that he would get justice on the matter
On Friday (December 19), Dewan alleged that he was assaulted by an Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal. Talking on Monday, he said that he has submitted a written complaint to the police and does not wish to speak further on the matter so he can focus on healing.
“I have nothing more to add at this stage. To know what happened, kindly refer to my X posts. Currently, I cannot comment further as I have sent a written complaint to the Delhi Police for necessary action, and understand from media reports an FIR has been registered. I am right now focusing on my health, and a CT scan today showed a “displaced fracture of left nasal bone”. I hope I get justice in the matter,” Ankit Dewan said.
Dewan had posted about the whole incident on X, where he claimed that after a “verbal scuffle” broke out, and the pilot was “not able to exercise restraint.”
“Me and my family were guided to use the security check that the staff uses (also the PRM check), because we had a 4 month old baby in a stroller. The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff,” he posted on X.
“A verbal scuffle broke out. Not able to excercise restraint, the AIX pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph (first comment) on his shirt is also mine,” he said.
He had alleged that he was made to write a letter stating that he wouldn’t persue the matter, or risk losing his flight, and the planned vacation.
Following the incident which happened on Friday at Terminal 1 of Delhi International Airport, Air India Express issued a statement on X, saying that the pilot has been removed from official duties and they, “regret the incident”, while being committed to cooperating with law enforcement, and ensure a fair and thorough process happens.
“The concerned employee has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, and appropriate action will be taken pending thorough investigation. While we refrain from public comments while due process is followed, please be assured this matter has our highest attention. We remain fully committed to provide due cooperation to law enforcement authorities to ensure a fair and thorough process,” the Airline said.
However, Captain Sejwal has claimed that the incident has been “unfairly projected as a pilot vs passenger dispute,” whereas the airline pilot was travelling as a passenger, was not on flight duty, and the incident was not connected to his professional responsibilities.
“Capt. Virender Sejwal was travelling as a passenger. He was not on flight duty, nor was the incident connected in any manner to his professional responsibilities. It was a purely personal matter between two passengers,” read an official statement Captain Sejwal’s lawyers.
“Mr. Ankit Dewan initiated the confrontation by verbally abusing Capt. Virender Sejwal without provocation and continued using abusive, degrading and threatening language even after being asked to stop. The situation escalated into a physical altercation in which Capt Sejwal was also hurt; he also sustained injuries during the scuffle,” the statement added.
The lawyer said that Dewan hurled castiest remarks against the pilot, and that a false narrative with selectively presented facts has been put up.
Distorted social media portrayal is based on a one sided, incomplete misrepresentation of facts. Mr. Ankit Dewan has selectively presented facts to create a false narrative, wrongly implying a professional conflict and attempting to sensationalize a settled issue. Whereas castiest remarks were made against Capt Sejwal, and absolutely unfathomable threats were made to female members of his family including a child.
According to the lawyers, CISF personnel also repeatedly told Dewan to “calm down and stop abusing,” but he “refused to relent and continued his misconduct in their presence.”
The lawyer said that the incident was resolved at the airport with both parties “voluntarily signed a statement” confirming that they do not wish to pursue any legal action. (ANI)
