A physical altercation at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 1, last Friday has taken a serious turn with the involved Air India Express captain leveling grave accusations against the passenger. Captain Virender Sejwal has alleged that the passenger, identified as Ankit Dewan, hurled casteist slurs and issued threats against female members of his family, including a child.
Pilot's Legal Team Details the Confrontation
In a formal statement issued on Sunday, Captain Sejwal's advocate, Sonali Karwasra Joon, presented the pilot's version of events. According to the statement, Ankit Dewan initiated the confrontation without any provocation. The pilot was subjected to verbal abuse, which continued despite repeated requests to stop.
The lawyer stated that Dewan used "abusive, degrading and threatening language". The situation, which began as a verbal argument, eventually escalated into a physical scuffle. Captain Sejwal also sustained injuries during this altercation. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, who are responsible for airport security, intervened promptly.
CISF Intervention and Mutual Resolution
The CISF officials repeatedly instructed Ankit Dewan to calm down and cease his abusive behavior. However, the passenger reportedly refused to relent and continued his misconduct even in the presence of the security personnel.
Importantly, the legal statement clarified the resolution of the incident. The matter was settled on the spot in the presence of the CISF officials. Both parties voluntarily signed a statement confirming that they did not wish to pursue any legal action against each other.
The statement strongly refuted any claims of coercion, asserting, "Contrary to misleading claims, Ankit Dewan signed willingly — there was no coercion or pressure involved." It also defended the CISF's role, adding, "Allegations of any force or bias against CISF are incorrect and unfounded."
Aftermath and Pilot's Current Status
In the wake of the incident, Air India Express has grounded Captain Virender Sejwal pending an internal probe. His legal team emphasized that the captain was traveling as a passenger at the time and was not on flight duty. They stated the incident was in no way connected to his professional responsibilities.
Expressing faith in the investigative process, the statement said Captain Sejwal "has full faith in authorities that he will not be denied justice and the incident will be looked at impartially, considering all facts and without the overbearing social media narrative." The case highlights tensions that can erupt in transit hubs and the serious nature of allegations involving caste-based abuse and personal threats.
