Scrapped aircraft parts theft: Air India staffers held, released on bail

NEW DELHI: Two Air India staffers, including an assistant manager were arrested for the theft of three tons of scrapped aircraft parts, on Saturday. The accused have been identified as Gyan Chand Garg and Kishan Kumar. However, the duo were released on interim bail on the same day.

"Garg is an assistant manager in the material management department while Kishan is a supervisor. They were granted interim bail on humanitarian grounds because of Karva Chauth on Saturday. However, on Monday, they were bailed out on a bond of Rs four lakh with instructions to assist the police in the probe. We are investigating the matter," said a senior police officer from IGI district.

Around 3000 kg of aircraft parts were found missing in June. An internal inquiry was initiated but when no headway could be made, airline officials contacted the police in September end. The stolen parts were worth one crore, said sources.

Cops have demanded relevant documents of last six months from the duo and have asked for their full co-operation during investigations. Earlier, police suspected the role of insiders in the theft.

"We are investigating how the goods - including more than 1600 engine parts - were stolen from AI's engine overhaul complex, a high security area. The multi-level checking should have stopped the items from being taken outside the complex. We are probing if a bigger racket was involved in the case," added the source.

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