Video | Shiv Sena-AI incident: Sir please it will be a murder case, pleads AI staffer; I have many cases against me, replies MP

The incident of Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad beating an Air India staffer has shocked the nation. Even as the unapologetic MP has admitted to hitting the 60-year-old duty manager Sukumar 25 times with his slippers, what actually transpired in the flight remained mystery. Until a video came out. 

A mobile video recorded during the scuffle has been issued by a news agency. Even though, video cannot be shared here due to the obscene language content, here are the excerpts from the discussion that transpired between MP Gaikwad and an Air India, trying to pacify the Shiv Sena leader. 

AI staffer: Sir, please it will be a murder case

MP Gaikwad: Let it be, I have many cases against me 

AI staffer: No Sir, you have reached this stage with a lot of effort. You are our representative. You are our democratic leader. We have elected you. 

AI staffer: Please don't do anything silly for stupid man (AI staff). He is crazy. 

MP Gaikwad: But why did he come inside. 

AI staffer: Yes you can tell him to get out. He will not come out, he was not talking in the proper way.

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Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Thursday assaulted an elderly Air India officer with his slippers in a brazen burst of fury over being unable to travel business class despite having insisted on boarding an all-economy flight.

Ravindra Gaikwad slapped and, by his own claim, hit 60-year-old duty manager Sukumar 25 times with his slippers when the official went to persuade him to disembark after he refused to alight, holding up the aircraft for over 40 minutes.

The national carrier has filed two FIRs against the MP, known for his strong-arm tactics, while Shiv Sena has sought an explanation from him. While one FIR relates to assault, the other is for holding up the aircraft.

According to the airline, Gaikwad was booked on an open ticket in business class with Air India which allows a passenger to take a flight on any date.

But Gaikwad insisted on taking the 7:35 AM AI 852 this morning from Pune to Delhi.

When the aircraft landed in Delhi, he refused to disembark despite attempts at persuading him to do so. Sukumar also tried to pacify the MP, who vociferously complained about the morning flight to Delhi from Pune not having business class.

ALSO READ | 'I hit him 25 times with my sandals, says Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad after assaulting Air India manager

Ravindra Gaikwad unapologetic: 

The MP, who was unapologetic about his actions, even boasting about it on national TV, claimed it was the officer’s threat to complain about it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that made him lose his cool.

“I first asked him to lower his voice as his blood pressure would shoot up. He then said he would complain to Modi. Then I slapped him. I hit him 25 times with my sandal.

“I am Shiv Sena MP, not of BJP, to tolerate abuses,” he said.

Gaikwad, bragging about the incident, said, ”I was about to throw him off the plane.”

He boastfully claimed he held up the plane for “full one hour” and did not allow the maintenance staff to clean the aircraft.

When asked whether he had any regret for his actions and if he would apologise, a defiant Gaikwad, who was once in news for having shoved down the throat an allegedly stale chapati to a fasting Muslim caterer while complaining about the quality of food served at the Maharashtra Sadan here, remained defiant.