Italian DJ Olly Esse alleges assault by Air India staff in Hyderabad

Olly Esse, an Italian DJ, was allegedly assaulted by Air India Staff at the departure area of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on August 19. Esse had uploaded a video of her on Facebook complaining about the incident. She has also made allegations that even the police did not bother helping her when she went to register the incident.

Also Read | Indian Idol: As reality unfolds, talent suffers under dogmatism

Esse alleges that her Air India flight was delayed by nine hours and when inquired about the status of her flight, the attendant at the departure gate did not respond to her query. Moreover, when she walked up to the Air India counter seeking for an answer, the employee at the desk refused to help her, saying that it was not her job. She argued that Esse should have made the bookings herself.

The DJ also alleged that when she threatened to file a complaint against the staff and demanded her to repeat her statement on video, the employee slapped her.

The sufferings of Esse did not end at the airport. After being assaulted, she went to the police station to lodge a complaint against the employee. But, the policemen refused to file a complaint as the inspector was not present at the time. Even the airport authorities denied helping the foreign DJ.

Also Read | Lalu Prasad Yadav's family plots in Patna are money laundering assets, claims PMLA authority

Esse took to her Facebook account and posted her video with a caption that read, “I went and asked a lady (I know name and surname) at the counter of air India how what should I do and she didn't reply, attracted her attention once again asking her to collaborate and she replied rudely that this is not her job and I should go to do bookings by myself - as I took out the cell phone and asked her to say that again cuz I'm going to file the complain to air India for that kind of treatment she SLAPPED ME SO HARD I FELT BACK AND MY CELL PHONE FELL FROM MY HAND! I literally started to scream from pain!”

According to reports, Air India has denied the allegations of assault saying, “The lady from AI Sats, which is our outsourced agency at RGIA, was being filmed by the Italian DJ so she objected to it and raised her hand to stop the filming and the mobile slipped from the Italian lady's hand and was caught by her. It didn't fall down. She accused the AI SATs girl of assault. CISF also intervened and told the Italian lady that she can't film the staff."

Also Read | West Bengal Panchayat Polls: Relief for Mamata Banerjee as SC says no to re-election on uncontested seats

Air India staff alleged that Esse was angry because of the delay.

The Inspector deputed at the airport apologised to Esse for the inconvenience caused to her. He wrote an apology on Twitter and said they will file an FIR if she files a complaint.

Good afternoon madam
I Mahesh Inspector of Police RIGA PS
I am very much available in the police station since morning. I enquired and came to know that you met a special police constable. Since he is on gaured duty he might have informed you to visit PS RGIA in shamshabad.

— RGI Airport Police Station (@psrgia_cyb) August 19, 2018

Police officials are awaiting an official complaint to begin a probe into the matter.