Mumbai: Ravindra Gaikwad, a first time MP of Shiv Sena from Osmanabad constituency in Marathwada grabbed media attention on Thursday for allegedly beating an Air India staffer with his sandals.
Mr Gaikwad bragged about his “actions” while speaking to TV channels. He even mentioned that he hit the AI staffer with his sandal 25 times.
Mr Gaikwad allegedly assaulted the AI staffer during an argument over being asked to travel economy despite having a business class coupon. The flight the MP took had only economy seats.
It may be mentioned that an election affidavit filed by Mr Gaikwad for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls shows criminal cases against him.
Gaikwad was a professor earlier
Sources said that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has already sought an explanation from Mr Gaikwad. It may be mentioned here that an election affidavit filed by Mr Gaikwad for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls shows seven cases against him, including some criminal cases.
Mr Gaikwad has also been an MLA from Shiv Sena. He was a professor at a college in Osmanabad before entering active politics. Though Mr Gaikwad has admitted to hitting the AI employee, sources in the Sena said he is a “very polite person”.
Mr Gaikwad was in the eye of a row in 2014 for allegedly trying to force-feed a Muslim caterer during the fasting month of Ramzan over the quality of chapatis served at the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
However, an affidavit filed by Mr Gaikwad for the Lok Sabha polls shows seven cases against him. Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai said the party does not endorse such a behaviour in public, but said Mr Gaikwad’s side should also be heard.
“Gaikwad was very polite and had booked a ticket for business class. He just questioned the crew when (he was) asked to seat in the economy class. He even waited for another crew member to speak. But the person roughly spoke to him. Gaikwad is a professor and does not have any such record in the past. But we will look into the matter,” Mr Desai told reporters here.
