'No breach of security, but pilferage occurred on PM's flight'

Mumbai, July 11 (UNI) Air India Chairman and Managing Director V Thulasidas today denied that there was a breach of security on the airlines' flight which carried Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on his visit to Germany and Uzbekistan in April, but termed it an ''act of pilferage.'' ''We assure that there was no security lapse at all, but, there was an incident of pilferage of liquor bottles,'' Mr Tulsidas told mediapersons at a hurriedly-called press conference here.

He said the incident reportedly occurred between April 21 and 26, during the PM's visit, but was detected on April 27, immediately after which an inquiry was carried out.

He, however, admitted that had there not been a 'leakage' of the incident in media, he would not have narrated the entire incident, for which already two committees were set up and the final report of the second committee was submitted to him today itself.

''We will examine the report from all perspectives and then will take appropriate action against the guilty,'' he assured.

He said the 35-member AI crew, including 21 cabin crew members, who were on the PM's flight, have been kept away from VVIP flights, till the guilty is found and those found involved in the incident, would be kept away from VVIP flights in future.

He said the action is expected within two-three days.

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