Delhi Police have initiated a detailed examination of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, alongside a medical report that confirms injuries, in connection with an alleged assault involving an Air India Express pilot and a passenger at the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). The incident, which has sparked significant attention, occurred on December 19 at Terminal 1 of the airport.
CCTV Evidence and Medical Confirmation
Officers investigating the case confirmed that the CCTV recordings from the scene visibly show the pilot, identified as Virender Sejwal, striking the complainant, Ankit Dewan, and subsequently restraining him. This visual evidence forms a crucial part of the probe.
Adding weight to the allegations, the police have also received a medical report that substantiates the assault on Ankit Dewan. The First Information Report (FIR) in this matter was officially registered on Monday, December 23, setting the legal process in motion.
Contradictory Accounts of the Altercation
According to Dewan's account, the confrontation began as a verbal argument after he objected to airline staff, including Sejwal, allegedly cutting a queue at a staff security check area. Dewan, who was returning from a holiday in Jaipur, stated that the verbal exchange escalated into a physical assault by the pilot.
"I am aware of the developments in the matter in the past few days and have submitted an official complaint via email. I would not comment on the matter further till I get an update from the police," Dewan told The Indian Express.
In a starkly different version, pilot Virender Sejwal, through a statement issued by his lawyer, claimed that Dewan initiated unprovoked verbal abuse. Sejwal alleged that Dewan continued using "abusive, degrading and threatening language" despite being asked to stop. Notably, Sejwal was not on official duty at the time and was travelling as a passenger on an IndiGo flight to Bengaluru.
Pilot's Defence and Police Investigation
Sejwal has strongly contested the narrative surrounding the event. On Sunday, he asserted that the incident had been "misrepresented" on social media, "unfairly projecting it as a 'pilot vs passenger' dispute." He emphasised that the altercation was a "purely personal matter between two passengers" and had "no connection whatsoever" with his professional role or responsibilities at Air India Express.
Despite this defence, the Delhi Police are proceeding with their investigation based on the complaint, the FIR, and the collected evidence. The scrutiny of the CCTV footage is a key step in establishing a clear timeline and the nature of the physical interaction between the two individuals.
The case highlights tensions that can arise in busy airport environments and underscores the importance of conduct, regardless of professional standing, in public spaces. The police investigation will determine the further legal course of action.
