Ranchi: Jharkhand Police has registered an FIR against against BJP leaders Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari and seven others for allegedly entering the Air Traffic Control (ATC) room of Deoghar airport and forcing officials to issue a take-off clearance to a chartered flight after sunset.
Deoghar DC in a letter to the Principal Secretary, Cabinet-Coordination (Civil Aviation), Jharkhand, dated September 2, explaining the issue saying that after boarding the plane, the pilot came out of the plane and started walking towards the ATC.
“Also, on August 31, the local sunset timing was 18.03 hours… air services are to be conducted up to 17.30 hours. Dubey and others came inside the ATC room…the security in-charge said that the pilot and the passengers were pressuring for clearance to take off, which was given,” the letter said.
“The security in-charge has mentioned that he was shocked and alarmed due to the presence of passengers in the ATC room and such actions are a breach of airport security standards. Security in-charge further noticed that the pilot and the passengers were pressurising that they may be given clearance for the take-off. As a result, the ATC clearance was given,” it added.
MP Dubey said in a tweet: “…How did you get inside the airport and under what authority? Who gave you the permission to see CCTV footage? You are frustrated, be the Chief Minister’s sycophant and be cool.” To this, Bhajantri replied that he had the authority and took a ‘gate pass’ to enter. However, to this, Dubey said: “Who gave you the permission to enter the Apron? ATC Tower? You breached all norms. Pathetic.”
Bhajantri replied by saying said that he has not entered Apron, ATC tower. “This incident is better left to be inquired by the competent authorities,” he said.