MUMBAI: Police arrested a Bangladesh citizen for allegedly flashing at flight attendants and appearing to masturbate during a flight from Muscat to Mumbai on Thursday. The accused, Mohammad Dulal (30), committed the offence 30 minutes before the Vistara flight‘s scheduled landing at Mumbai around 4.25 am. Dulal who was supposed to board a connecting flight to Dhaka was handed over to Sahar police. Dulal’s is the 12th case of unruly passenger behaviour reported in Mumbai in 2023. A total 23 cases have been registered between 2017 and 2023 (till September 7).
Dulal was produced before the Andheri Court on Thursday. Lawyer Prabhakar Tripathi who appeared for him argued that Dulal suffered from a mental disorder and did not follow English and Hindi. The passenger has been remanded to police custody till Friday.
“Dulal was arrested based on the complaint from the 22-year-old flight attendant for hugging her and trying to kiss her onboard. He even flashed at a flight supervisor and at other onboard passengers when they intervened. He did not listen to the captain who read out the Red Warning Card and declared him an unruly passenger for not obeying warnings,” said a Sahar police station officer.
In the complaint, the 22-year-old flight attendant said, “I was collecting the food plate trays from passengers when I noticed the accused flyer signalling me. After collecting the food tray from the accused in seat no 19-E, I pushed the trolley to go ahead…the accused jumped from his seat, and over a passenger and stood in front of the trolley. I was left in shock when suddenly he hugged me and tried to kiss me. The victim immediately called out to a colleague (male attendant Mohammed Elham) who tried to free her. “Dulal who had held the victim’s left hand tightly was subdued with the help of other onboard passengers,”said police. However, he kept hurling abuses when asked to be seated. The remand application says he flashed at the attendant and “shook his organ” in front of her and other passengers.
The matter was also brought to the notice of the flight captain. “Dulal continued his act despite passengers next to him being shifted and the Red Warning Card being read out. He was overpowered and seated by attendant Elham till the flight landed in Mumbai,” said the police.
Police have informed the Bangladesh consulate who will make arrangements for his bail and other case-related procedures on Friday.
Lawyer Prabhakar Tripathi who appeared for the accused, argued that he was falsely implicated. He said Dulal has a mental disorder and does not follow English and Hindi. He hails from a poor background in Bangladesh and his lack of knowledge led to an argument with the complainant, he said.
“An incident regarding an unruly passenger was reported on Vistara flight UK 234 operating from Muscat to Mumbai on 6 September 2023. In view of the gross misconduct, the captain issued a warning letter and made the decision to restrain the customer. In accordance with the guidelines and our stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs), the security agencies on-ground were informed to take immediate action upon arrival. The customer has been taken into custody for further investigation by the security agency at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The incident is being reported to the local authorities as per the SOPs. Vistara stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against unruly behaviour that endangers the safety, security, and dignity of its customers and staff,” Vistara said, in a statement.
Dulal was produced before the Andheri Court on Thursday. Lawyer Prabhakar Tripathi who appeared for him argued that Dulal suffered from a mental disorder and did not follow English and Hindi. The passenger has been remanded to police custody till Friday.
“Dulal was arrested based on the complaint from the 22-year-old flight attendant for hugging her and trying to kiss her onboard. He even flashed at a flight supervisor and at other onboard passengers when they intervened. He did not listen to the captain who read out the Red Warning Card and declared him an unruly passenger for not obeying warnings,” said a Sahar police station officer.
In the complaint, the 22-year-old flight attendant said, “I was collecting the food plate trays from passengers when I noticed the accused flyer signalling me. After collecting the food tray from the accused in seat no 19-E, I pushed the trolley to go ahead…the accused jumped from his seat, and over a passenger and stood in front of the trolley. I was left in shock when suddenly he hugged me and tried to kiss me. The victim immediately called out to a colleague (male attendant Mohammed Elham) who tried to free her. “Dulal who had held the victim’s left hand tightly was subdued with the help of other onboard passengers,”said police. However, he kept hurling abuses when asked to be seated. The remand application says he flashed at the attendant and “shook his organ” in front of her and other passengers.
The matter was also brought to the notice of the flight captain. “Dulal continued his act despite passengers next to him being shifted and the Red Warning Card being read out. He was overpowered and seated by attendant Elham till the flight landed in Mumbai,” said the police.
Police have informed the Bangladesh consulate who will make arrangements for his bail and other case-related procedures on Friday.
Lawyer Prabhakar Tripathi who appeared for the accused, argued that he was falsely implicated. He said Dulal has a mental disorder and does not follow English and Hindi. He hails from a poor background in Bangladesh and his lack of knowledge led to an argument with the complainant, he said.
“An incident regarding an unruly passenger was reported on Vistara flight UK 234 operating from Muscat to Mumbai on 6 September 2023. In view of the gross misconduct, the captain issued a warning letter and made the decision to restrain the customer. In accordance with the guidelines and our stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs), the security agencies on-ground were informed to take immediate action upon arrival. The customer has been taken into custody for further investigation by the security agency at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. The incident is being reported to the local authorities as per the SOPs. Vistara stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against unruly behaviour that endangers the safety, security, and dignity of its customers and staff,” Vistara said, in a statement.
