Pune: An IndiGo airline employee working at the Pune airport as a customer service officer was arrested by the Delhi police for making a hoax call regarding a bomb on a Mumbai-bound flight at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

“The accused was identified as Kartik Madhav Bhat (23), who made a call and it was received at the IndiGo airlines office in the cargo complex of the IGI airport at 8.15 am on May 2,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia told Sakal Times over the phone. 

Kartik was arrested two days ago at Pune airport and has been taken to Delhi in transit remand, he said.
A case was registered and police zeroed in on the owner of the mobile phone from which the call was made.
Sanjay Bhatia said, “His job performance was not up to the mark and he had got a verbal notice to improve his performance in three months or face action. So he was depressed and made the call out of frustration to teach a lesson to the airlines.” 

“Meanwhile, the phone’s SIM card (postpaid) has been seized from him,” he further added.IndiGo, in a statement, said, “Following the initial finding of the police investigation into a security-related matter, IndiGo has suspended an employee for his alleged involvement in perpetrating the hoax bomb threat call recently at the Delhi airport.”

“Given the sensitivity of the matter, we will not be able to disclose any further details at the moment. We are fully cooperating and assisting the concerned authorities in the investigation,” the statement said.