Air India regional director suspended for ‘shoplifting’ at Sydney duty free outlet

In a statement, confirming the development, 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. There is an initial report of one of its captains Mr Rohit Bhasin, who is also working as a regional director, picked up a wallet from a duty free shop in Sydney. Air India has instituted an enquiry into this incident and has placed the captain under suspension”.

As per reports, the suspended commander has been flying with Air India for over three decades and comes from a family of pilots. His father was a pilot too, as are his wife and son. He is also said to have flown former President Pratibha Patil on her foreign tours in Air India’s VVIP aircraft.

The letter by the flag-carrier suspending Bhasin also told him not to enter the premises of Air India or leave Kolkata, his station, without permission of the airline management. He was also asked to hand over all the identity documents issued by the company.