Dwarka Court grants bail to de-rostered IndiGo pilot
Aug 17, 2023
New Delhi [India], August 17 : Delhi's Dwarka Court on Thursday granted bail to a junior First Officer (pilot) (now de-rostered) with IndiGo Airlines after being in custody for one month.
The First Officer alongwith her husband who was also Ground Engineering Staff with Vistara Airlines were arrested on July 19, 2023, on serious allegations of mistreatment and causing hurt and injury to a young girl of 10 years who they had employed in their house as an attendant to take care of their 4-year-old infant.
Prior to their arrest the couple was also manhandled and beaten up by a mob outside their house.
The Additional Sessions Judge Vipin Kharb while granted bail said, no purpose will be served by keeping her in custody, therefore, the application is allowed and accused/applicant Pournima Nilkant Somkumar is granted regular bail on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 1,00,000 with one surety.
The former First Officer, was represented through Advocate, Tanveer Ahmed Mir, briefed by a team of lawyers from Karanjawala & Company led by Samarjit Pattnaik, Partner alongwith Advocate Puneet Relan, Principal Associate, Irfan Muzamil, Sr. Associate and Kashish Seth and Tanvi Seth, Associates from the firm.
In the bail application, it has been argued on the basis that the accused was in custody for the last one month, the injury on the victim as per MLC was simple injury, and the only serious offence was under the provision of Section 370 IPC which is regarding trafficking of a person, though, from the facts of the case, the offence of trafficking was not made out as the child was handed over by the parents to the applicant and her husband.
It was also argued that the 4-year infant of the applicant suffered from certain serious medical conditions for which the personal parental care and more specifically the mother was essential and since both the applicant as well as her husband are in custody it was imperative that the applicant who is the mother should be enlarged on bail.
The court after hearing the counsel for the applicant as well as the State was pleased to grant bail on furnishing of bail bond and on conditions that the applicant will not temper with evidence, will not leave India without permission of the court, and not contact the injured child and her family members, alongwith minor other conditions.
