When the defendant appealed Tuesday against a magistrates court order refusing him bail, Judge Harjyot Singh Bhalla granted him relief on personal bail of Rs 1,000 for additional sessions. He remarked that what Mishra allegedly did was “disgusting, but the court has an obligation to follow the law”.
Lead attorney Ramesh Gupta, who appeared for Mishra, said his client’s bail was previously denied as the investigation was pending, but it is now closed.
“Now the investigation is closed and the police have questioned the crew members and witnesses,” he said.
Air India urination case: Patiala House Court grants bail to Shankar Mishra
Mishra had previously alleged that the applicant soiled her seat herself. On January 13, Mishra told the court, “It must have been someone else who peed or it must have been the lady herself who urinated.” He had claimed that the woman was suffering from a problem as she had a be a classical dancer. But the woman had dismissed the claim that it was “completely false and made up”.
On January 19, Air India banned Mishra from flying for four months. “The passenger has been placed on the airline’s ‘No Fly List’… Air India will also notify other airlines operating in the country,” a spokesman said.
The urinating incident happened on November 26, 2022 in business class on a flight from New York to Delhi, when Mishra allegedly relieved herself in a drunken state on a 70-year-old passenger. After the matter came to light, Air India set up an internal committee to investigate the crew’s failings. Sources said the airline submitted the internal report on Jan. 19.
the Police in Delhi had registered an FIR against Mishra under Sections 354, 509 and 510 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 23 of the Indian Airplane Act on 4 January based on a complaint by the woman with Air India. Mishra was arrested in Bengaluru on January 6 by Delhi police.
(with agency entries)
