Govt. to file case against Continental Airlines on Kalam issue

New Delhi, July 21 (ANI): After slapping a show cause notice on the US-based Continental Airlines, which frisked former president APJ Abdul Kalam at the IGI airport in New Delhi in April This year, the government has now decided to lodge a case against the airliner.

The case would be lodged by the country's nodal agency on air security, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) under the Aircraft Act.

As per reports, the case would be registered under Section 11 (A) of the Act for wilfully violating an airport circular.

The section cites a prison term of six months for staff involved and/or a fine of 10 lakh rupees, if convicted.

Meanwhile, a private TV channel has quoted Kalam, as confirming the incident that took place in April. Kalam was then on his way to New York.

According to reports, the government's decision comes in the wake of the airliner's reluctance to apologise for a clear breach of protocol and treating a person of Dr Kalam's eminence as a commoner.

Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told the Rajya Sabha that the Government of India has slapped a show cause notice on Continental Airlines for an "unpardonable" act of frisking a former president.

"Not only the preliminary inquiry has been ordered, but we also have a preliminary report on the basis of which, Continental Airlines has been issued a show cause notice as to why action for wilful violation should not be taken," Patel said.

Patel was responding to the anguish expressed by the entire House, including Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan, over the "humiliation" meted out to the Bharat Ratna, whom they described as tall figure and a national hero. (ANI)