The decision to suspend Captain Rohit Bhasin for alleged shoplifting was taken following a report by the regional manager, Australasia.

Air India has suspended its Regional Director-Eastern Region for allegedly shoplifting a wallet in the duty free area of Sydney airport on June 22.

The decision to suspend Captain Rohit Bhasin was taken following a report by the Regional Manager-Australasia. A senior commander, Capt. Rohit Bhasin was to fly AI301 from Sydney to Delhi, a little after he allegedly committed the shoplifting.

The order signed by Air India’s Director-Personnel, Amrita Sharan said that “without prejudice to any disciplinary action initiated against him and pending enquiry, Capt. Bhasin is being placed under suspension”.

The senior pilot was told to not enter the premises of Air India Limited or leave Kolkata, his station, without permission of the airline management. He was also told to handover all his company identity documents.

‘Overwhelmed’

Officials said that Captain Bhasin told officials that he had just learnt of having become a grandfather and that he was too overwhelmed when he visited the outlet of Tumi, a bags and accessories brand, to buy a gift for his daughter-in-law.

The Air India spokesperson said the carrier lays the highest stress on the proper conduct of its staff and has a zero tolerance policy towards acts of impropriety.

“There is an initial report of one of the captains, Rohit Bhasin, who is also working as a Regional Director, picking up a wallet from a duty free shop in Sydney. Air India has instituted an enquiry into this incident and has placed the captain under suspension,” airline spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar said.

In another order, Sanjay Mishra, Air India’s General Manager, Commercial-Eastern Region was given charge of Regional Director-Eastern Region, in addition to his own duties.