Air India suspends regional director for shoplifting wallet at Sydney airport

The action was taken against Bhasin after the Australian regional manager filed a complaint against him.

Ground staff stand next to an Air India plane at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 10, 2018. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP)

New Delhi: Air India has suspended its Regional Director for East Rohit Bhasin for allegedly shoplifting a wallet from a duty free shop at Sydney airport, the airline said on Sunday. The action was taken against Bhasin after the Australian regional manager filed a complaint against him. Bhasin 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. "There is an initial report of one of its Captains Rohit Bhasin who is also working as a regional director picking up a wallet from a duty-free shop in Sydney," said Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar. "Air India has instituted an inquiry into this incident and has placed the captain under suspension," he said. The suspension order issued by the airline on Saturday stated: "It has been reported by regional manager Australasia that you allegedly committed an act of shoplifting from a duty free shop at Sydney airport before the departure of flight AI301 of 22nd June, 2019, from Sydney airport for which you were rostered as one of the Commander." In an official communique, Kumar said, "Air India lays the highest stress on the proper conduct of its staff and has a zero-tolerance policy towards acts of impropriety." "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. The suspension of Bhasin comes close on the heels of de-rostering an Air India captain and a crew member for allegedly getting into a heated argument on board Delhi-Bengaluru plane. (with inputs from agencies)