Surat: A court has handed down a six-month jail sentence to Kaustav Satyajit Biswas, a Bengaluru resident, for smoking on an Air India flight. The incident, which caused quite a stir among passengers, took place during a journey from Delhi to Surat in 2024.
The trouble began when Biswas locked himself inside the aircraft lavatory for an unusually long time. Concerned travelers alerted the cabin crew about his prolonged absence. Vandari Sut Nongang, one of the crew members, knocked repeatedly on the door until he finally emerged. Passengers immediately detected the strong smell of cigarette smoke.
When confronted by crew members, Biswas admitted to smoking onboard—a clear violation of aviation safety rules. Upon landing in Surat, airline staff escalated the issue to local authorities. Shyambhai Rajeshbhai Kansara from Air India informed Dumas Police Station about Biswas’s behavior.
Police apprehended him and discovered cigarettes and a matchbox in his possession during a search. Further inquiries revealed that he had also been drinking alcohol prior to boarding. Following this discovery, police registered formal charges against him.
During the trial, public prosecutor Parvez Pathan presented evidence against Biswas while advocates Piyam Thakkar and Siddharth Katiyare represented him in court. After reviewing arguments from both sides, the judge found Biswas guilty of his actions and imposed a prison term.
This incident led flight crew members to offload Biswas at Surat airport instead of allowing him to continue his trip back home to Bengaluru after visiting Delhi for business purposes.