Customs official files FIR against Air India for luggage theft

Customs commissioner Atul Dikshit, in his compliant on 24 April, said that his suitcase was pilfered and damaged due to improper handling by Air India. The commissioner travelled on Air India from Newark NJ to Mumbai on Air India flight AI-144 and then to Delhi on flight AI-310, which arrived in Delhi on 23 February, 2014. On arrival at Delhi, he filed a complaint with Air India about one suitcase mishandled on the Washington DC – JFK sector by American Airlines.

‘The suitcase was put on another flight to Chicago and hence could not be retrieved before his flight from Newark to Mumbai on 22 February. Meanwhile Air India collected suitcases from American Airlines and delivered it on 27 February. At the time of collection from Air India, it was noticed that the suitcase was damaged. The lock and latch had been forcibly removed ostensibly for opening the suitcase and one of the four wheels was missing. Since the lock had been removed, the suitcase was strapped with transparent tape to secure it. However there were no signs of damage due to fall while handling’, Dikshit wrote in his complaint.

Subsequently, upon opening the suitcase following items were found to be stolen: one 10” iPad (32 GB with pink cover), one bottle of perfume of YSL make, USD 500 in $50 denominations from his wallet. Incidentally the wallet was left in the suitcase. It is suspected that the suitcase was tampered with and pilfered while it was being handled at IGI airport. These fact were mentioned in the commissioner’s complaint.

Meanwhile the airline has said that investigations have begun. ‘The matter is being investigated and we will take necessary step to address this issue,’ said Air India spokesperson Praveen Bhatnagar.