Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 3: The Delhi Police on Saturday registered a Zero FIR against Deoghar deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri including slapping sedition charges to counter complaints against two BJP Members of Parliament and others under the Indian Penal Code and Aircraft Act for forcing the airport authorities to clear a flight beyond the permissible time.
At the behest of the BJP MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey, the FIR registered at the North Avenue Police Station carries allegations of criminal intimidation, obstructing public servant, trespass, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy, besides sedition, under the IPC, plus charges as per the Official Secrets Act.
The FIR was filed to counter the police complaint filed in Deoghar against Dubey, another BJP MP Manoj Tewari, and seven others including the airport officer of Deoghar for unauthorised entry into the Air Traffic Control Room and forcing the authorities to allow the VIP flight to take off well-beyond the sunset time when night flying was not permitted at the Deoghar airport.
The row had erupted after the BJP leaders visited the family members of the girl burnt alive by a Muslim boy in Dumka and while returning to Delhi insisted that their nine-seater charted flight take-off from Deoghar. According to Bhajantri, on August 31, the local sunset timing was 6.03pm, while the chartered flight took off at 6.17pm when air services are to be conducted up to 5.30pm at the Deoghar airport. The airport, which was inaugurated by the prime minister Narendra Modi only in July, has no night flying facility and all airport services are to be closed down at least 30 minutes before the sunset time.
But the BJP leaders allegedly put pressure on ATC officials to provide clearance for their chartered flight to take off from Deoghar airport beyond the scheduled time. All the nine people were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code besides the Aircraft Act, officials said. Besides Dubey and Tiwari, the airport director Sandeep Dhingra was named in the FIR.
Dubey questioned the DC’s authority to enter the ATC room and having access to CCTV footage. In a tweet, Dubey wrote “This act is similar to that of a criminal that you (DC Bhajantri) entered the premises without permission. In what capacity did you enter the airport? Who gave you the permission to see CCTV footages?,” Calling the IAS officer a Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s “Chamcha,” Dubey said, “You are frustrated. Continue to take orders from the CM.”
The IAS officer replied, “Hon’ble MP Sir, I had entered the Airport terminal after taking legitimate entry pass. DC is also a Member on the Board of Directors of Deoghar Airport.” Dubey later said he has got an FIR registered in Delhi against the Deoghar DC under the Official Secrets Act and various sections of the IPC. He also asked if Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren had given the DC a contract to “abuse central government establishment.”
“The airport authority which is operating the airport @aaideoghar has a case against director Sandeep Dhingra. I have asked for CCTV in which DC Deoghar is threatening Dhingra. Has Hemant Soren given contract to abuse central government establishment,” the MP further tweeted.
Nishikant Dubey has alleged that the local police abused and threatened to kill his two sons “at the behest of Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri.” He’s already justified his family members having entered the area, saying they were “bringing my slippers as I’d walked in barefoot.”
In the August 31 incident, Dubey and fellow MP Manoj Tiwari were among nine people who allegedly barged into the Air Traffic Control (ATC) area and forcibly got clearance past sunset, even though the airport is not yet okayed for night operations. They were charged with criminal trespass and putting lives in danger, police said, on a complaint by the airport security in-charge.
The IAS officer has written to the Principal Secretary, Cabinet Coordination (Civil Aviation), Jharkhand, on the issue. The MP has also written to the district police chief, accusing the bureaucrat of obstructing his work.
The letter states that the airport’s security in-charge has said he was “shocked and alarmed” after Dubey and others entered the ATC room in breach of security. “Security in-charge further noticed that the pilot and the passengers were pressurizing that they may be given clearance for the take-off. As a result, the ATC clearance was given,” it added.
Targeting the IAS officer, Dubey tweeted that he is a “chamcha” — meaning lackey — of the Chief Minister. The officer hit back, asking how the chartered plane took off after the sunset when night operations are not allowed at the airport. He also questioned how the MPs, his sons and others entered the high-security ATC area.
Targeting the BJP MP, the JMM has said if he has been entrusted with creating ruckus in the airport and appeal to Union Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia and aviation regulator DGCA to take action in the matter.
Dubey has said the flight took off at 6.28 pm and that it’s permissible to take off within half an hour of sunset. He slammed the deputy commissioner, saying he has no business to “poke his nose” in the matter