Bengaluru: An IIT graduate’s alleged attempt to open Jaipur-Bengaluru flight’s safety door midair, compounded by unrestrained rant against Bengaluru cops, has landed him in trouble, with Kempegowda International Airport police booking the passenger for both on-air and on-ground actions which unfolded in less than 24 hours spanning two states and a total flight time of five hours.The incident took place when 26-year-old Utkarsh Gautam, from Jaipur and alumnus of IIT-Bombay, allegedly attempted to open the safety door mid-air — an act that could have posed a grave safety threat — onboard IndiGo flight 6E 373.When cabin crew intervened to pull him back, Utkarsh allegedly abused and threatened them, leading to him being declared an unruly passenger.On landing, airline staff alerted KIA security, who detained Gautam and handed him over to police. Following a complaint by airline representative Pradeep N, a non-cognisable report was registered at the KIA police station. Police said Utkarsh’s alleged rude behaviour prolonged the process, and it took nearly three hours to release him after recording his statement. He was later sent with his friend, Jaiprakash, for further inquiry.A senior officer said Utkarsh’s father took him back to Jaipur by air the same day. However, the matter took a fresh turn when Utkarsh allegedly posted abusive and defamatory videos on X and Instagram the same night, targeting Bengaluru City police.When Utkarsh was detained on March 22 (the day of the incident), his father and friend had informed police that he had been suffering from bipolar disorder for nearly a year and was undergoing treatment. He previously worked in London and with well-known companies in India. Currently, he is out of job due to this condition, family sources said.After returning to Jaipur, Utkarsh reportedly left home without informing his family, leaving behind his mobile phone, and continued posting derogatory content online. “We’ve asked his family to bring him (to Bengaluru) for investigation,” the city police said.In one such post, he reportedly called upon Mumbai police to arrest Bengaluru police, while falsely claiming he was “arrested without any reason” and “beaten up at KIA”. He tagged PM Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Bengaluru City police in the posts.Bengaluru police dismissed Utkarsh’s allegations as false and misleading, and added the posts were intended to distort facts and tarnish the department’s image. Another case has been registered for statements causing public mischief and defamation.MSID:: 129804418 413 |
