New Delhi: It was a diplomat colleague in Washington on board the same aircraft who blew the whistle on 2002 batch topper and Indian Foreign Service officer Alok Ranjan Jha on his alleged misbehaviour with women passengers in an inebriated condition while on a flight to New York.
Jha, in Executive Class, was on his way to New York -- on board Air India 101 -- to join as First Secretary in India's permanent mission there.
Sources have confirmed to The Indian Express that a US-based Indian diplomat and his wife were on the same flight and were scheduled to change planes in New York en route to Washington.
Jha was clearly unaware of their presence, sources said, as he allegedly got inebriated, flaunted his credentials and New York assignment, as he misbehaved with at least three women passengers, including the crew who sought to intervene to bring the situation under control.
On reaching their destination, Jha's diplomat colleague is said to have made an official complaint with the mission. This was corroborated a few days later when the alleged misbehaviour found a detailed mention in the flight crew's report filed on the plane's return to New Delhi.
Sources said Jha's "drunken behaviour" was also on display at the Customs area at the JFK airport in New York prompting "a lot of talk" among the airport ground staff there.
Following the complaint, the Indian mission in New York is said to have made "discreet" inquiries and verified details. Given that India is being closely watched after its recent election to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, the Ministry of External Affairs decided to immediately recall Jha to avoid further embarrassment. An internal inquiry will now be carried out here.
Source: Indian Express
Sources have confirmed to The Indian Express that a US-based Indian diplomat and his wife were on the same flight and were scheduled to change planes in New York en route to Washington.
Jha was clearly unaware of their presence, sources said, as he allegedly got inebriated, flaunted his credentials and New York assignment, as he misbehaved with at least three women passengers, including the crew who sought to intervene to bring the situation under control.
On reaching their destination, Jha's diplomat colleague is said to have made an official complaint with the mission. This was corroborated a few days later when the alleged misbehaviour found a detailed mention in the flight crew's report filed on the plane's return to New Delhi.
Sources said Jha's "drunken behaviour" was also on display at the Customs area at the JFK airport in New York prompting "a lot of talk" among the airport ground staff there.
Following the complaint, the Indian mission in New York is said to have made "discreet" inquiries and verified details. Given that India is being closely watched after its recent election to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, the Ministry of External Affairs decided to immediately recall Jha to avoid further embarrassment. An internal inquiry will now be carried out here.
Source: Indian Express