AI regional director 'shoplifts' at Sydney airport, suspended

New Delhi Air India has suspended its Regional Director for East Rohit Bhasin for allegedly shoplifting a wallet from a dutyfree shop at the Sydney airport officials said on SundayBhasin who has also been barred from entering Air India premises without permission was rostered as one of the commanders pilots of AI301 flight which was set to depart at 1045 am local time on June 22 from the Sydney airport for DelhiThere is an initial report of one of its captains Mr Rohit Bhasin who is also working as a regional director picking up a wallet from a duty free shop in Sydney Air India has instituted an enquiry into this incident and has placed the captain under suspension a spokesperson for the airline saidThe suspension order issued by the airline on Saturday stated It has been reported by regional manager Australasia that you allegedly committed an act of shoplifting from a duty free shop at Sydney airport before the departure of flight AI301 of 22nd June 2019 from Sydney airport for which you were rostered as one of the CommandersThe airline spokesperson said The incident happened around 630 am IST at Sydeny and suspension order was served on the captain at the airport itself on landing of the SydneyDelhi flight around 730 pm Very quick and exemplary action has been takenWithout prejudice to any disciplinary action to be initiated against you and pending enquiry you are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect the order statedBesides barring from entering premises the order also directed him to surrender his identity cardYou will not enter the premises of Air India Ltd without written permission of the managementYou will surrender your PIC Company identity card to Regional Security Head Air India Ltd Kolkata it saidThe airline has also directed him not to leave his station Kolkata without written permission of the management nor engage in any employment or avocation You will not be eligible to any wages except the subsistence allowance as per rules with immediate effect it also saidThe spokesperson said Air India lays the highest stress on proper conduct of its staff and has a zero tolerance policy towards acts of impropriety Meanwhile the airline has given charge of Bhasins duties to another official Sanjay MisraIn a notification it said Sanjay Misra General Manager Commercial Eastern Region will hold current charge of the post of Regional Director Eastern Region in terms of Service Regulation 21 in addition to his own duties The current charge arrangement will be personal to him and without prejudice to right of his seniorsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates