Tirupati: Police is yet to make any arrest in Thursday’s case where YSRC MP P. Mithun Reddy allegedly slapped Tirupati Air India manager S. Rajsekhar. Based on Mr Rajsekhar’s complaint, police has filed cases against Mr Mithun Reddy and 15 others who were accompanying him under IPC Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 448 (trespass).
Tirupati Urban police district SP Gopinath Jetti said investigations were in progress based on the CCTV footage. However, the images were not clear as the camera was located far away from the spot where the YSRC MP slapped the official.
Airport director V.V. Rao said CCTV cameras located at the spot were being configured at that time. Some footage was recorded in a camera that was set up at the immigration point that was far away from the spot. Airport engineers are verifying footage recorded in other cameras. Police sources said a passenger who was present at that time had handed over the video of the incident that he had recorded in his mobilephone. Police is verifying the visuals.
An airport employee said he had seen the YSRC MP slapping Mr Rajsekhar. Others accompanying Mr Mithun Reddy roughed up the official after he came out of the cabin, he said.
When this newspaper asked Mr Mithun Reddy, the YSRC MP denied assaulting Mr Rajsekhar. He said he had intervened when 15 passengers including two of his relatives, apart from some foreigners, complained about the denial of boarding passes and rude behaviour of the official on the pretext that they were late.
According to the MP, the manager had misbehaved with him and he had decided to complain to the police and AI officials. He claimed he dropped the idea after the official requested him and a senior manager at the airport tendered an apology.
He said he was taken aback when the police came to his home at about midnight to record his statement following a complaint by Mr Rajsekhar. He alleged that the police failed to register his complaint against the manager.
He expressed surprise that the CCTV cameras were being configured during peak hours in the high-security area. When asked about the mobilephone recording, he said the police must bring it out. Contrary to Mr Mithun Reddy’s allegations regarding the behaviour of Mr Rajsekar, many employees at the airport said he was a polite and sincere officer who had received appreciation for his work.
He always kept flyers in good humour: Mom
Tirupati airport manager S. Rajsekhar’s mother, Ms Shanti Mohan, was in tears after learning that her son had been slapped on Friday by Rajampet YSRC MP Mithun Reddy.
Ms Mohan, who stays with her two grandchildren in Hyderabad, said that her son was a calm and humble person who never misbehaved with anyone. She added that he had a lot of experience of handling VIPs who visited Tirumala, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and always kept his cool and passengers in good humour.
Mr Rajsekhar had been transferred around 10 months ago from Shamshabad airport to the Renigunta airport.
On Friday at around 12.30 pm, after he was attacked by Mr Mithun Reddy, Mr Rajsekhar first called his mother and shared his pain with her. And the incident has had a deep impact on Ms Mohan as she says that her son had to face such humiliation in the hands of an irresponsible and undisciplined public representative. She said that for her son, duty came first, and added that since the incident, she had been flooded with calls form friends and family based in India and even abroad. “His friend who was transferred to a neighbouring country said that when Indian leaders go there, they act in a disciplined manner... why do they act like this in India?" asked Ms Mohan.
“Now the whole family is worried. My second son and daughter, who are abroad, are rushing to Hyderabad. Everyone is so scared. Why do these MPs, who are supposed to protect common people, behave like this?” she questioned. “Had his father been around, he would have met the MP and explained to him what a disciplined family we are…,” she added.
She was also worried that as an MP was involved in the incident, chances were that they might hush up the incident by giving lame excuses and her son would not get justice.
“Now they are saying on TV that CCTV was not working… they are trying to hush it up or what? How can CCTVs not work? Imagine if there is a serious attack?” Ms Mohan wondered.
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