Air India Express pilot, arrested in IGI airport passenger assault case, gets bail

The arrest of Captain Virender Sejwal followed an investigation into the incident that took place on December 19 near the security checkpoint of Terminal 1

• Air India Express pilot arrested for assaulting passenger at Delhi airport
• Pilot released on bail after being held under a bailable offence
• Air India Express removed the pilot from duties pending internal inquiry

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Air India Express pilot Virender Sejwal, accused of assaulting a passenger at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, was arrested and subsequently released on bail as he was held under a bailable offence.

The arrest of Captain Virender Sejwal followed an investigation into the incident that took place on December 19 near the security checkpoint of Terminal 1. Sejwal is accused of assaulting and injuring passenger Ankit Dewan after an argument over the use of a security check area reserved for staff and persons with reduced mobility.

According to Delhi Police, investigators collected pertinent CCTV footage and recorded statements from the parties involved after the case was registered. Sejwal was later called in for questioning and arrested a few days ago during the course of the investigation, according to a report by CNN-News18.

Delhi airport assault case: Here’s what happened

The alleged assault occurred on December 19 near the security checkpoint at Terminal 1, with Ankit Dewan claiming he was attacked by Air India Express captain Virender Sejwal, who was off duty and travelling as a passenger. Dewan said the dispute began when he objected to airline staff members cutting the security queue, and escalated into public abuse and physical assault, leaving him injured and his seven-year-old daughter traumatised after witnessing the incident.

In a subsequent statement, Dewan stated that a CT scan has confirmed a displaced fracture of his left nasal bone.

An FIR has been registered under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint lodged by Dewan via email.

Air India Express has said it is aware of the incident involving one of its employees and that the pilot, who was travelling on another airline at the time, has been removed from official duties with immediate effect pending an internal inquiry.