She is accusing IC-814 pilot of sexual abuse to divert attention from disciplinary action, says Airlines
She is accusing IC-814 pilot of sexual abuse to divert attention from disciplinary action, says AirlinesWith the entire Air India management having thrown its weight in favour of Captain Devi Sharan, hero of Kandhar hijack drama, the Alliance Air airhostess Simrath Chopra has decided to approach the National Commission of Woman for justice.
The move comes in the wake of the Air India leveling allegations against Chopra and media reports about her letter to the airlines' chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav, wherein she has complained that Devi Sharan of sexual harassment.
"I am being victimised. Therefore, I have decided to approach National Commission for Woman for justice," Chopra told MiD DAY.
Earlier in the day Air India spokesperson, said,u00a0 "She has been facing disciplinary action on account of her refusing to comply with administrative decisions taken by the Management."
Among the various actions pending against her, is also an enquiry initiated after an adverse vigilance report by the Chief Vigilance Officer of Alliance Air, the spokesperson added.u00a0 He went on saying that there have been complaints against Chopra from her colleagues regarding her attitude and behaviour. "Her allegations of sexual harassment against Capt Devi Sharan, the Head of her Department, appears to be a calculated move on her part to deflect attention from these disciplinary actions," the spokesperson added.
In her allegations and the letter written to Jadhav, Chopra has claimed that her post was downgraded by at least seven ranks, pushing her to a position she held 13 years ago.
Captatin Devi Sharan is executive director, operations, Alliance Air.
She alleged Sharan has been harassing her since March 2009 because she spurned his overtures.u00a0 "In 1996- 97, as an Indian Airlines pilot, Devi Sharan was in Kochi as part of Delhi- Goa- Kochi crew and made indecent overtures towards me. I reacted sharply and reprimanded him," Chopra's complaint read.
"He has issued a number of letters to force me to submit to his disgusting demands or lose my job. I could make out that he nurtured a deep grudge against me and was seeking vengeance. To my shock, he repeated his dirty advances again," she reportedly stated in her complaint to Air India CMD. Chopra held the position of chief of in- flight services ( IFS) or head of the department before Sharan took over as executive director in March 2009.
She alleged that her post was downgraded to senior cabin crew and she was asked to proceed on training to Hyderabad, days after Sharan became her immediate boss.u00a0
