Air India suspends pilot , director Rohit Bhasin for 'shoplifting' at Sydney airport


New Delhi, Jun 23 (IANS): National carrier Air India has suspended its pilot and Regional Director - East, Rohit Bhasin after he allegedly stole a wallet from a duty free shop at the Sydney airport.

The incident happened on Saturday, before the departure of flight AI-301, for which he was rostered as a commander.

"There is an initial report of one of our captains Rohit Bhasin, who is also working as a regional director, picking 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," an Air India spokesperson said.

The airline also barred him from entering the premises of Air India Ltd without written permission of the management and also asked him to submit the company identity card.

"Without prejudice to any disciplinary action to be initiated against you and pending enquiry, you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," the order said.

Bhasin has also been directed not to leave his station, Kolkata without written permission from the management.

"You will not be eligible to any wages except the subsistence allowance as per rules with immediate effect," said the order dated June 22, 2019.

Following the suspension, Sanjay Misra, General Manager, Commercial, Eastern Region, will hold the additional charge of Regional Director for Eastern Region, said another notification from the airline.

 

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Sunil K, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 26 2019

    Read the pilot's version here: https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/axed-for-shoplifting-air-india-pilot-recounts-grandfather-news-that-distracted-him/cid/1693064

    He had paid 124 Australian dollars for purchasing a jacket and the wallet. The store clerk had not punched in the wallet as it was a demo piece and wanted to get a new piece for the caption. I find it odd on the part of the store to bill only one item. The decision to suspend a long serving employee has been a hasty one by Air India. Since this news has painted a negative picture, I would suggest Cmdr Rohit Bhasin to get a very good lawyer and sue the bones off Air India.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Tue, Jun 25 2019

    Here we Indians ;should atleast hold back from stamping him as shoplifter at present.God knows what situation was .and specially British and Australiens are first one to laugh and make fun of us ,and this incident will give more chance to them to stamp us still.Let things clear and then we know more about it.I still believe it was a by mistake.Because he certainly doesnt lack money whatever he wanted.or wanted to give it to the officals as found object?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • abdulla, india

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Wha a shame..what a disgrace..
    so mean.. he went down so low..
    Like a beggar.
    Its time to Educate.. the masses how to travel abroad.. behave. follow the rules..regulations.. law of land..systems.
    They steal from the Aircrafts and hotels .
    why??
    Training..education.. needed.
    Each indian is like an Ambassador when he leaves the shore..so he better behave like one..
    how ever Poor he is..
    Manners..Etiquettes..behavior..attitude counts.
    be trained.
    when JRDTata was managing..he hand picked and they had regular training..up grading..educating to be the Top.
    after the Govt took over... this is the result.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Erstwhile employees have enjoyed a lot with high salary, perks and facilities working with least efficiency; same with HCI and IA!

    Once I had seen candies with IA markings, on the wrappers, being sold in a shop near Mumbai AP!!

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mumbai

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    In a survey conducted in Bangalore, it was found that many shop lifters are from the affluent class!

    BTW, there is a mental disorder called OCD; person's suffering from this have a high propensity to indulge in shoplifting!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ahmed, MANGALORE

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Dears,

    Don jump into conclusion. Regardless of religion / region / country. There might some reason. will wait till fact finding results. y cant, it may our turn too.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Augustine Daniel DSouza, Udupi Mumbai STATE OF KUWAIT.

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Shame and greed on Rohit Bhasin - Director
    He cannot purchase a Wallet with his own money.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    This man could easily afford to purchase the wallet, but perhaps on the spur of the moment something must have come over him to just put that wallet in his pocket.

    As he is now seeing how he has destroyed himself and his family, I am sure they are all devastated by this last minute impulse.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shammi, Karnataka

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    The moment the pilot pass in the airport,I get goosebumps like how i get for national anthem.These are highly dignified people.Then why this man is defaming the airline community.Navy officers and pilot officers,please Never do this.
    If you do then whats the difference between you and slum pickpockets.
    These police officers have already stolen their dignity and also army officers.
    You four our nation's shield.Please preserve it.

    Jai hind

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • H. Almeida., Bendur/Andheri

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Air India pilot, is following the legacy of his superiors... The temptation of swindling,
    has become ingrained in the entire management n workforce..... Mantris, Babus, have milked the national carrier dry, today this anaemic airline, is on life support..... Government is foolishly pumping tax chequered money on this dead PSU !!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • LSM, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    He comes from a family of pilots. His father, wife, son, daughter all are pilots. So I dont think he would have committed such a petty crime n disgraced his full.family. Just before the incident happened he received a message saying he has become a grandfather. It's quite possible that in his excitement he must have forgotten to pay the bill. Let's.hope that he gets a fair trial n truth prevails..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • NS, PUTTUR

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    GUYS SHOP LIFTING IS A SICKNESS. IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE POOR OR RICH. THE DUTY FREE SHOP WILL NEVER ALLEGE WITHOUT ANY PROOF. THEY KEEP A WATCH ON CCTV AND ONCE CONFIRMED THEN THEY ACT. I KNEW ONE GUY WORKING IN A HIGH RANK FROM INDIA AND SHOP LIFTING IN USA. HE HAD A SICKNESS OF PICKING BIKINIS. HE REPEATED IT AND WAS CAUGHT RED HANDED. SO MORAL OF THE STORY IS NOT BY MISTAKE. ITS A HABITUAL SICKNESS AND NEED TO SEE A PSYCHOLOGIST. HE CAN COME OUT OF THIS ALLEGATION WITH THIS REASON.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • LSM, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    If it's a sickness he would have committed it often. So far he has a clean record. In most countries outside India if you pick something accidentally too it is considered shoplifting. That is the reason in countries like Singapore you have to be extra cautious when shopping with toddlers. If your toddler picks up something without your knowledge and at the exit gate it beeps it becomes a case of shop lifting. This is my experience in Singapore.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • NN, NN

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Hahaha... if it is a sickness, he could have stolen the plane man !

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishal, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    I read in one of the newspapers that just before this incident took place, in the airport itself, Rohit received a call from home in India about the birth of his grandchild. Probably, he must have got elated by this and in his anxiety and happiness, would have forgotten to pay. That is just a possibility as he is a senior person and would be very well aware of the rules. May be, he could be given the benefit of the doubt in this case.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard Thomas, UDUPI

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Of late Air India is very much in the news to negate
    the image of Air India, which is already reeling in
    great financial losses.

    This might just be another ploy to tarnish Air India's
    image by using one of their older staff. The best leather
    wallets are made in India for all international brands,
    therefore it appears absurd an Indian would carry out
    such an act with or without intent!

    The Air India management is now left to
    investigate all angles whether it is the employee's
    job and image of the employee in queston or the
    image of a great Airline!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Azeez Vittal, Dubai

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Either he must be kleptomaniac or forgotten to make payment,otherwise person with such a good salary won't go for stealing petty items.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangaluru

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    He deserves suspension for the act committed.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Thomas Andrade, Toronto

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Having been a pilot on international flights for such a long period, Rohit is sure that there are CCTVs everywhere in shops and definitely in duty-free shops at airports, I don't think even if someone wants to steal, he would do such thing. He must have surely forgotten to make the payment.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rahul, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    He is protecting & preserving our culture internationally.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jagdish, mumbai

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    LIKE PAPPU URF RAHUL.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • NN, NN

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    When you have too much stress, you tend to have memory lapse. Once I ate in the restaurant and realized that I left my wallet at home. The Cashier noted down my name and telephone number and asked me to pay next time. The cashier should have at least reminded him to pay knowing his position.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • NN, NN

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Sydney duty free shop cashier should have at least some common sense.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    I just cant believe this.There must be a mistake in doing this.Quite possible he must have taken the vallet in his hands which was there ,thinking it is my vallet,with a absent mind,which can happen to anybody;not thinking it belongs someone else.was it looking like same ?Sometime whoever it is do things without thinking and can put us in a embarassing situation.So must have happened.So I feel we should not stamp him as a shoplifter without thinking.feel pity as he is a senior person ?and now have to hear from many newsletters ,media.Hope things will be cleared soon.What happened to the vallet ,did he give it to someone there or kept to himself ?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sunil K, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    I feel Rohit earns enough to buy several wallets if he needs to. Could be an inadvertent mistake ?

    DisAgree [13] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Save My India, India.

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Have you heard the word "Greed"...?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya., Belman / Washington, DC.

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    Rohit,

    There are CCTV every where....nobody cares if you are senior Pilot or Indian Civil Aviation Minister....if you steal, you will pay for it for sure....in Western countries...

    ,,,Tak...Takk...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [42] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rahul, Mangalore

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    Langoo,
    He protecting & preserving our culture.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    It has to be a sickness, otherwise such a established individual can't be that stupid !!
    Along with PILOT & DIRECTOR; additional title to his name will be CHINDI CHOR ...

    DisAgree [6] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse

  • Evans C. Sumitra, Udupi/ New York, USA.

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    I respect Rohit and I was a passenger with my family when he was a pilot on my trip to New York and Mumbai. Good luck Rohit.

    DisAgree [20] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mr Clean, Mangalore

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    After 2014 whatever good things we learnt and practiced are turning out to be wrong!?!?!?!?....So, what are we to teach our kids and what type of role model we are to be to them?????. If a Murder Accused Criminal and Thadipar can become a top cop of the country and a head of Home Ministry then disaster has come to this country and the innocent will be slained mercilessly and guilty will be righteous under this rule.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    First time in 72 Years ...

    DisAgree [19] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    Just google Sudhir Nayak cricket and look up wikipedia.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    Sudhir Nayak was not a Director ...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kishore Kumar, Mangaluru

    Sun, Jun 23 2019

    NO, .... this is similar to shop-lifting of two pair of socks at M&S stores by opening batsman, Sudhir Naik during 1974 tour of England.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • SP Shetty, Dubai/Kateel

    Mon, Jun 24 2019

    I always look for Jossys comments, I like them a lot.

    Keep it up Jossy Sir,

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Air India suspends pilot , director Rohit Bhasin for 'shoplifting' at Sydney airport



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