'Komal was molested'

Says NCW, supporting Air India air hostess

Air India airhostess Komal Singh has finally found support for her cause.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has backed Singh in the alleged sexual harassment case.

The NCW said on Tuesday Singh's version of events is correct, adding evidence points to the pilots being in the wrong. The air hostess had alleged sexual harassment by two senior pilots. "Strong evidence points to Komal Singh being assaulted," sources in the NCW said.

An Air India probe panel on Friday gave a clean chit to the two pilots who were charged with sexual harassment by Singh in the wake of a mid-air scuffle between them during a flight from Sharjah earlier this month.

The committee was set up on October 6 to investigate the mid-air scuffle between co-pilot Aditya Chopra and flight purser Amit Khanna, during which Komal Singh was reportedly pushed by Commander Ranbir Arora and Chopra.

The enquiry committee charge sheeted Komal for allegedly violating conduct rules, not complying with the company policy and speaking to the media, insubordination and disobeying seniors.

Flashback
On October 3, a mid-air scuffle broke out between the two pilots and the air hostess and the purser on the Sharjah-Lucknow flight (IC-884).

A preliminary enquiry into the incident was ordered the same day after which Ranbir Arora and Amit Khanna were suspended and Komal Singh and Aditya Chopra were de-rostered.u00a0 On October 6 the Air India management ordered a departmental enquiry to determine the extent of involvement and culpability of each of these individuals.

The Airbus A-320 was carrying 106 passengers and seven crew members and was over Pakistan when the reported scuffle broke out.

Komal Singh had also filed an FIR on October 3 against both the pilots in Delhi following which they were arrested but later freed on bail.