Air India Employee Molestation Case: Suresh Prabhu Orders Probe

Taking cognizance of a sexual harassment complaint by an Air India air hostess, Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday directed the senior management to "immediately address" the issue.

The air hostess had written a complaint letter addressing the Minister. Responding to that letter, Suresh Prabhu had tweeted, “Asked @airindiain CMD to immediately address this issue. If necessary, will appoint another committee.”

Asked @airindiain CMD to immediately address this issue. If necessary, will appoint another committee

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) May 29, 2018

The direction came just after the hostess took the whole issue to Twitter. In her complaint, she has accused a senior official of sexually harassing her for six years. She claims, “a senior executive over last six years has sexually harassed, tortured and discriminated against me.” Also, she asserted that she would be revealing the name once she meets the minister.

She also claimed that the same incident happened with many of her fellow colleagues.

The woman wrote that she lodged a complaint with Air India in September last year. But, the company’s woman’s cell took no action. Instead, it allegedly tried to cover up the matter

She wrote,“I used the internal processes because I did not want to attract publicity or attention… but six years of torture and nine months of tortuous delay and coverups have left me frustrated.”

Also: Air India Air Hostess Claims Pilot Molested Her

The complainant in her letter wrote, “During the mockery of Enquiry when I narrated my tale of sexual harassment and the choice abusive language and sexual innuendos used by the Senior male executive to me, the Lady chairperson of the committee had the temerity and gall to actually respond - "Oh you know how he talks. He has even flirted with me like this so many times!"

Also: “We Talk About Rape, Is This Any Less?”, Ask SpiceJet Air Hostesses

The air hostess has been working for the airline for several decades. Describing him as a predator, she had urged the Civil Aviation Minister to further investigate into the matter.

Prabhu has asked Air India CMD Pradeep Singh Kharola to look into the matter. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has also formed a committee to probe into the case. They said that a joint secretary will investigate the details of the case.

This is not the first time Air India has been marred by sexual harassment cases. An Air India pilot was arrested for molesting a fellow air hostess in mid-air flight on May 4. Last year in November, a case was registered against an Air India Pilot against the complaint of a female attendant. The female attendant alleges that she was sexually harassed by him.

Also Read: Dangal Star Zaira Wasim Molested on Vistara Flight

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