Ravindra Gaikwad's open ticket from Mumbai to Delhi cancelled by Air India

Ravindra Gaikwad. Image Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Air India on Tuesday cancelled Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad’s Mumbai-Delhi ticket days after grounding him last week for assaulting its staffer. Gaikwad had an open ticket with Air India and was scheduled to fly to the national capital on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, a team of Delhi Police on Monday recorded statements of 15 Air India staffers, including the 60-year-old airline official, who was allegedly assaulted by Gaikwad at IGI airport here last week. The team supervised by Crime Branch DCP Ram Gopal Naik reached the Indira Gandhi International airport and recorded the statements of the AirIndia staff. They also took possession of the CCTV footage and videos capturing the incident. ALSO READ: Australian cricketers are no longer friends, says India skipper Virat Kohli "The statements of around 15 AirIndia staffers who witnessed the assault on Sukumar were recorded. The CCTV footage and other videos capturing the incident were also obtained," said a senior police officer. The 57-year-old first-term MP had repeatedly hit the Air India staffer on March 23 after the Pune-Delhi flight landed in the national capital. He was furious at having to fly economy on an all-economy flight despite having a business class coupon. A case was registered by the Delhi police in connection with the incident on Friday. Later, the case was transferred to the Crime Branch. The incident had led to widespread condemnation and outrage as a purported video clip of the episode went viral on social media. The officer added that the possibility of arrest of the MP could not be commented upon as the matter was under investigation.