Hyderabad: Two passengers were arrested in separate mid-air alleged sexual harassment incidents at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad, following complaints from airline representatives in a fortnight.The latest incident occurred on Dec 13 when Indigo flight 6E-86 from Dammam landed at RGIA around 8am. During the cruise, passenger Balakrishna Ramesh, 58, allegedly rubbed his arm against a woman crew member and, moments later, touched her inappropriately while walking towards the toilet. When confronted by the lead crew member, Ramesh admitted the act and was immediately declared an ‘unruly passenger’ as per Bureau of Civil Aviation Security orders. Based on the complaint of an Indigo representative, the RGIA police have registered a case under Section 75(2) (sexual harassment punishment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “We have served Ramesh with a notice to appear for questioning as and when required by the investigating officer,” a RGIA police officer said.Earlier, on Nov 28, Biniyam Nazar, a techie from Kerala travelling on Air India flight AI-2204 from Dubai, allegedly misbehaved with a stewardess and later left a handwritten note containing obscene and abusive remarks aimed at her. Cabin crew, suspecting he was intoxicated, alerted the cockpit and he was detained on arrival. RGIA police booked Nazar under BNS Sections 74 (assault with intent to outrage modesty), 75(1)(ii) (sexual harassment) and 79 (insulting the modesty of a woman). Nazar was arrested and served a notice as per the law.
