'Not Fit To Fly, Go Stitch Slippers': IndiGo Trainee Pilot Alleges Casteist Abuse By Seniors; FIR Registered

New Delhi: A 35-year-old trainee pilot from Bengaluru has accused three senior IndiGo officials of casteist harassment and verbal abuse, triggering a criminal case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The pilot alleged that during a meeting at IndiGo’s Gurugram headquarters, he was told he was “not fit to fly” and should “go back and stitch slippers.”

The FIR, initially registered as a zero FIR in Bengaluru, has now been transferred to Gurugram’s DLF-1 police station. The accused officials named, Tapas Dey, Manish Sahni and Captain Rahul Patil, have been booked under multiple sections of the SC/ST Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

‘Humiliated and Targeted for My Caste’, Says Pilot

According to the complaint, the pilot was abused during a 30-minute meeting on April 28 at IndiGo’s Emaar Capital Tower 2 office. The pilot claimed the hostility began as soon as he arrived, with one of the accused demanding he leave his phone and bag outside “in a demeaning manner.”

In his statement, the complainant alleged he was told, “You are not fit to fly an aircraft, go back and stitch slippers. You are not even worthy of being a watchman here.” He said the remarks were not only deeply insulting but “clearly aimed at degrading my identity and status as a Scheduled Caste (SC) person.”

He further alleged the harassment extended beyond verbal abuse and included professional victimisation, from unjustified salary deductions and forced retraining sessions to travel privilege revocation and unwarranted warning letters.

FIR Filed; Police Begin Probe

With no response from IndiGo’s higher officials or ethics committee, the pilot said that he was left with no option but to approach the SC/ST cell for legal action.

An FIR has now been filed under sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act, which deal with intentional public humiliation, along with BNS sections related to criminal intimidation and provocation.

“We have begun collecting evidence and will soon record the statements of all parties involved,” Assistant Sub-Inspector Dalwinder Singh told TOI.

IndiGo Denies Allegations

IndiGo has issued a statement distancing itself from the incident and has reaffirmed its workplace values.

“IndiGo upholds a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of discrimination, harassment, or bias and remains firmly committed to being an inclusive and respectful workplace. IndiGo strongly refutes these baseless claims and stands by its values of fairness, integrity, and accountability and will extend its support to the law enforcement agencies as required,” an IndiGo spokesperson told The Free Press Journal.

Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025, 11:36 AM IST