New Delhi: Air India has suspended its Regional Director for East Rohit Bhasin for alleged shoplifting: he had surreptitiously removed a wallet from a duty free shop at Sydney airport. Bhasin, who has also been barred from entering Air India premises without permission, was rostered as one of the commanders (pilots) of AI301 flight, which was set to depart at 10.45 am (local time) on June 22 from Sydney airport for Delhi. This incident happened just before the departure of flight AI301 on June 22, 2019, from Sydney airport for which he was rostered as one of the commanders. Air India has instituted an enquiry into the incident and placed the captain under suspension, a spokesperson of the airline said. During the period of suspension he is barred from entering the Air India premises without the written permission of the management. He has been also asked to surrender his I-card.
The airline has also directed him not to leave his station (Kolkata); nor engage in any employment or avocation. Incidentally, at the time of the incident in Sydney Bhasin had received a phone from Delhi informing that he had become a grandfather. The pilot is learnt to have told the airline he was elated on learning that he had become a grandfather and wanted to pick up a gift for his daughter in law. He picked up something for her in a hurry and inadvertently did not pay for it. By the time he realised his folly, he was already on board and flying to Delhi. A spokesperson said, "Air India lays the highest stress on proper conduct of its staff and has a zero tolerance policy towards acts of impropriety.’’