One week after Air India issued a flying ban on Ravindra Gaikwad after he assaulted an airline manager, the Shiv Sena lawmaker is trying to get around the ban by using "different honorifics and spellings of his name" to buy tickets, the Hindustan Timesreported today.
In a video which was circulated widely on social media, Gaikwad was seen hitting the airline official with his footwear and then trying to push him down the stairs to the tarmac.
An Air India official told HT that Gaikwad has tried to make bookings by names such as "Ravindra Gaikwad, R Gaikwad, Prof V Ravindra Gaikwad and Prof Ravindra Gaikwad," prompting the airline to ban these names. "We are scanning all the details as bookings are made through coupon issued by Parliament," the official told the newspaper.
Two attempts by Gaikwad to book tickets for Air India flights have been thwarted by national carrier over the past few days. He has also been banned by five private airlines.
On 23 March, Gaikwad, 56, assaulted the 60-year-old airline official with his slipper over seating allocation on a Pune-New Delhi Air India flight. He was upset that he was made to travel economy when he had a ticket for the business class. He refused to deplane.
Gaikwad also claimed that the official had misbehaved with him.
In the face of national outrage, Gaikwad refused to apologize. "Kaahe ka pashchaataap (what is there to repent)?" he said. "I will not apologize...he [AI Manager Sukumar] should come and apologize... then we will see. A 60-year-old man should also know how to behave."
"Maine sandal se pachhis maara, (I rained 25 blows on him with my slipper)," he said.
While Gaikwad was assaulting Kumar, a stewardess was heard telling him, "You're a role model no? Parliament kaun pahuch sakta hai? Aap jail mein kyu jaana chahte hai? You are a democratic leader, we have elected you. Aap fenk denge toh murder case ho jayega na, sir? (Why do you want to go to jail? If you throw him out it will be a murder case)."
The Delhi Police registered against Gaikwad, last week.
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