IndiGo Flight Incident: Man Arrested For Sexual Harassment On Delhi-Chennai Route

A 43-year-old sales executive was arrested on charges of sexual harassment after he allegedly inappropriately touched a female passenger during an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Chennai.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, and the arrest took place shortly after the flight landed, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Photo Credit: PTI

According to police reports, the woman, who had been seated in a window seat in front of the accused, was asleep when the suspect, identified as Rajesh Sharma, who was also seated in a window seat directly behind her, allegedly touched her inappropriately. Upon landing at Chennai airport around 4:30 PM, the woman, with assistance from the airline staff, filed a formal complaint at the All Women's Police Station located in Meenambakkam, as reported by Hindustan Times.

On 9th October 2024, a customer onboard flight 6E 2308 operating from Delhi to Chennai raised a complaint regarding the conduct of a fellow traveler. Our crew promptly addressed the matter, and upon landing, the customer was handed over to the security agencies.

The authorities registered a case against Sharma under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to sexual harassment. He was subsequently arrested. It was reported that Sharma, originally from Rajasthan, has been residing in Chennai for several years.

While IndiGo has not issued a formal statement regarding the incident, airport officials confirmed that the female passenger received support from the airline staff in filing her complaint. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about passenger safety and harassment on flights, prompting discussions about measures to better protect travellers, as per media reports.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing inappropriate behaviour in public spaces, including on commercial flights, and ensuring that victims feel empowered to report such incidents.