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AI's infighting behind allegations: Beri

Created on : 07/17/2006 2:39:25 PM (NORMAL ) 
 

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Air India's resident director N K Beri today accused some of his own colleagues of trying to drag his name into the recent incident of pilferage from the bar card of VVIP aircraft carrying the prime minister to Germany in April.

''The communication by an official of Air India's vigilance department that five whisky bottles were detected in my baggage through X-rays at Berlin airport is incorrect,'' he told UNI.

''Some people from my own airline are trying to deprive me of my current position as resident director (Delhi region) which is a prestigious post. They are trying to tarnish my image by dragging my name into this incident with which I had nothing to do.'' The civil aviation ministry had written to AI last month expressing concern at the serious security lapse on board the VVIP aircraft carrying prime minister Manmohan Singh to Germany and Uzbekistan in April. Apparently, the security seals of a cabin in the aircraft were broken and six whisky bottles pilfered.

The government-owned international carrier has ordered an enquiry into the incident. AI's chairman and managing director Vasudevan Thulasidas has denied any security lapse during the episode.

''The liquor carried by me at that time was for my personal consumption and comprised rum, whisky (quarter bottles) and half a bottle of wine. The baggage was not physically opened at Berlin airport. How can AI's vigilance department say that there were five whisky bottles in my baggage,'' said Capt Beri.

''The entire incident has been a big trauma for my family and myself. I have flown several VVIPs in the past and there were never any complaints,'' he said. Capt Beri joined AI in 1990 after a posting in the home ministry.

According to AI's vigilance department, a total of 29 bottles were found to be in the possession of 14 officials and crew members.

It is being ascertained where they purchased them and whether they can account for them.

UNI SU PV DS1425

Stolen or otherwise, who pays for all this booze of Air India One? And wouldn't the crew and others be on a "non booze non everything" kind of statutory regimen on such flights?

I mean, what price security if the ****pit crew are knocking it down the evening before?

the_380 wrote:

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Its simple to analyse the situation that no one other than the C,ockpit Crew and Cabin Crew cud have pulled such a stunt. And even if they did how does it matter... when people eat lacs and crores of ur money these people takn just 5 bottles

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Bandhu,

The point here is how was the security lowered on the PM's aircraft, and not who breached it....

End of the day a thief is a thief in the eyes of the law, 10 Crores or a bottle of pau sair. I don't believe you have to join them if you can't fight them...........self respect.

cheers

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/nmirror/mmpaper.asp?sectid=4&articleid=71920062055499067192006205514375#

Single malt claims multiple victims

Captain Beri won’t fly any VVIP plane until Scotch theft probe ends

Sanjiv Kumar

July 20, 2006

New Delhi: Air India Resident Director-Delhi Region Captain N K Beri will be out of action till the inquiry into the Scotch Whisky theft case that took place on board the Prime Minister’s special aircraft on way to Germany and Uzbekistan on April 24 this year, is completed. He has also been withdrawn from other VVIP flights.

The theft of Scotch Whiskey from PM’s plane had got many of the crew suspended, the latest being Beri.

A top official of Air India confirmed that Beri will not be holding the responsibilities of the Resident Director-Delhi Region till inquiry into this case is completed.

“Ms Chitra Sarkar, Commercial Manager-Tourism, Liaison and GOI Sales, New Delhi, will look after his work in the office of Resident Director-Delhi Region,’’ Air India Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) S Mukherjee said in an order issued on Tuesday.

He said the order was with the approval of the Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas.

“None of the employees involved will be assigned any duties on VVIP flights. The administration and supervisory charge held by the senior employees who were on board would remain withdrawn,” it added.

 Beri, who has been the commander of the VVIP flights for the past couple of years, was not allowed to accompany the PM’s recent flight to St Petersburg where Singh had gone to attend the G8 summit.

When contacted, Beri said: “I’m still Air India Resident Director-Delhi Region, though I am not functioning in the office. I am a pilot and flying also.”Beri said some people in the industry were jealous with him as he has got a ‘dual job’ and that “they were maligning him.”

Air India Director (Public Relations) Jitender Bhargava said, “If these people are found clean after the inquiry, they will go back to their previous positions.”

On July 11, six missing bottles of Scotch had exposed a security loophole on the PM’s special aircraft and resulted in an acrimonious exchange between Air India and the Special Protection Group (SPG) that looks after the PM's security.

 Capt. Beri.

Need to share the booty with all to keep a secret I guess

regds

MEL

If you people realise what kind of a person Capt Beri is then you shall be surprised that he was even allowed to commander such a VVIP flight.

Also how could Capt. Beri supercede the seniority of 12 people and become a Director.

Is Capt. Beri a leading politicians relative, and was he carrying the same for him.

How come AirIndia addresses this as a security issue and not as crew siphoning freebies.

malik wrote:

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Who pays for all this booze, PMO or Air India or MEA or what? Any inputs please? 

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You pay for it, you as the tax payer......u think these politicians pay from their pockets.....

And boy oh boy......have you seen staff who does duty on the VVIP flights, imagine they have their own cars.....

I know of a family whose mother is the head inflight incharge and has an esteem of her own, her son has a corolla and yes the husband has his own.....(No offence but yes, the bank sources tell me that finance papers were submitted of the lady in the house).

So i guess this siphoning is also a way of making money......

How many airindians have seen so many freebies.....except those who have access to it

380,

During the Mumbai floods (that 96.4 cm a day), there was another scandal that came to light.

TV clearly showed people of the AI/IA colony walking around with lifejackets/vests that were for aircraft use.

In fact one guy quickly put away abright yellow IA A300 lifevest when the camera focussed on him for a while.

Raid the houses in AI/IA colony anywhere and you can dig out the store items by the tonne.