Deoghar: Politicians are known to get into trouble for their high-handedness.
In the latest instance, an FIR has been lodged against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari along with seven others for allegedly forcing officials at Deoghar airport in Jharkhand to clear their chartered flight for take-off at night.
A complaint was filed by Deoghar airport DSP Suman Anan, based on which a case was registered against nine persons, including the BJP leaders and the airport director. They have been charged with endangering the life and safety of others and criminal trespass.
According to the FIR, Lok Sabha MP from Godda Nishikant, his son Kanishk Kant Dubey, Mahikant Dubey, MP Tiwari, Mukesh Pathak, Devta Pandey and Pintu Tiwari entered the high-security Air Traffic Control (ATC) zone at Deoghar airport without permission on August 31, and put pressure on officials to grant clearance to their chartered plane.
Night operations are still not permitted at the airport, which was inaugurated in July. Flight services to and from Deoghar airport are allowed till 30 minutes before sunset.
The complainant claimed that the chartered flight took off at 6.17 pm, while the time of sunset on that day was 6.03 pm.
Contesting the charge, Nishikant said the airport authority did not object to the take-off.
“We took permission from the director of the airport… I am ready to fight the case, we will put forward our side of the events,” he told India Today.
Deoghar District Magistrate Manjunath Bhajantri accused the BJP leader of breaching ‘national security’ by bypassing safety regulations and forcibly getting clearance for his flight.
Dubey hit back with a scathing riposte.
“I’d suggest you to study aviation rules again. As an IAS officer, the nation expects better from you. Now the matter is under investigation at all possible levels, please comment further only after reading aviation and airport rules carefully henceforth,” Dubey tweeted.
