Harassment slur on hero pilot of IC-814

New Delhi: India's most celebrated pilot, who flew the IC- 814 that was hijacked and taken to Kandahar a decade ago, has come under a cloud. A senior airhostess of Alliance Air has levelled grave allegations against Captain Devi Sharan - currently the airline's executive director ( operations).
The airhostess of Alliance Air - a subsidiary of the national carrier Air India ( AI) - alleged Sharan has been harassing her since March because she spurned his overtures. She has written of her ordeal to AI chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav.
The airhostess claimed her post was downgraded by at least seven ranks, pushing her to a position she held 13 years ago.
According to her complaint, "In 1996- 97, as an Indian Airlines pilot, Capt Devi Sharan was in Kochi as part of Delhi- Goa- Kochi crew and made indecent overtures towards me. I reacted sharply and reprimanded him."" He has issued a number of letters to force me to submit to his disgusting demands or lose my job. I could make out that he nurtured a deep grudge against me and was seeking vengeance. To my shock, he repeated his dirty advances again."She was holding the position of chief of in- flight services ( IFS) or head of the department before Sharan took over as executive director in March.
Her post was downgraded to senior cabin crew and she was asked to proceed on training to Hyderabad, days after Sharan became her immediate boss.
After this, the post of chief of IFS - which she occupied - was abolished and her juniors were retained as deputy managers.
Sharan refuted the charges and said: " It was a management decision to abolish her post and there is no personal vendetta."The captain also denied harassing the airhostess.
29/10/09 Ajmer Singh/India Today

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Categories: Air India Domestic Oct 2009, Air India Regional Oct 2009, NACIL Oct 2009