Kochi: An honest Air India officer who stood against corruption in the airline was dragged into a false case of sexual harassment at work place by some disgruntled employees. The Crime Branch has found that 16 signatures in a complaint filed by 17 women staff against Mr L.S. Sibu, officer, apron, ground service department, Air India, Trivandrum international airport, were forged. It was revealed that this was to take revenge against him for filing complaints before the CBI and Central Vigilance alleging corruption in the airline company.
The Crime Branch has also recommended to the state police chief to register a case for forging false complaints and probe the matter. The investigation found that the complaint against Mr Sibu was fabricated by a group of employees aimed at humiliating him and ousting him from the office.
The Crime Branch in an affidavit submitted that the complaint in the name of 17 women staff was given by Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) association after he had complained to the CBI and Central Vigilance Comm-ission on the irregularities in awarding the contract of ground handling to AISATS by Air India without fulfilling the requisite formalities. The Crime Branch submitted that in spite of repeated requests, the AISATS was reluctant to provide the details of the female staff whose names were mentioned in the complaint. The Crime Branch found that only 16 women had put their signatures. On questioning them, all of them except one Preethi stated that they had not given any complaint and that the signatures were fabricated. They also deposed that they were not the members of AISATS and not aware of its existence. Mr Sibu was also not familiar to them.
According to the Crime Branch, when Preethi was asked about the case, she said she was not ready to divulge reasons for preferring the complaint. She also threatened to file a complaint if she was summoned again.
