Air Works’ ex-staffer may be arrested soon

Mumbai: A former employee with Air Works, the company that was responsible for maintaining Anil Ambani’s helicopter, could be apprehended by the police team investigating the sensational case involving an alleged bid to sabotage the ADAG group chairman’s chopper.
According to sources in the Mumbai Crime Branch. the suspect was also involved in similar incidents at Air Works earlier. A senior police official confirmed this development but refused to clarify whether the suspect has been questioned already. However, sources indicated the employee had been grilled and he may be arrested on Friday. Some sources say he may already have been arrested, possibly late on Thursday.
In the past year, around four incidents have occurred at the company involving tampering of aircraft, say investigators. Fire crackers were hurled once at the chopper of a well-known business tycoon, and in another case, stones were thrown at another chopper which Air Works was in charge of maintaining. Some employees were also nabbed by the company security while they were trying to damage the fire equipment in the hanger, police sources say. Though no police complaints were registered in these cases, the investigations have revealed that one person, who was suspended later, was behind all these incidents. The police say the main suspect was working in connivance with two other persons, who too were suspended from Air Works.
The Crime Branch believes the same person is behind the latest incident too, and are checking the phone records of the suspect. Rakesh Maria, joint commissioner (Crime), Mumbai Police, confirmed that there had been incidents involving showdown between Air Works management and its employees.
A K Sharma, Commissioner, Government Railway Police (GRP) , said, “Our investigations have revealed that management and employees had some disagreement and that some disgruntled elements may be involved in the incident.” The GRP is investigating the accidental death of Bharat Borge, the key witness in the chopper case. The police say the death could be a suicide, but are yet to book anyone for abetment to suicide.
Meanwhile, the crime branch on Thursday questioned 14 more people in the case. The crime branch had sent the pebbles for the test and are now waiting for the results which would indicate the origin of the pebbles.
01/05/09 Sachin Dave/Economic Times

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Categories: Airports May 2009, Indian Aviation- In General May 2009, Safety May 2009