Bengaluru, Jan 30: An Air India flight bound for Kochi from Bengaluru was briefly disrupted on Sunday evening after a passenger made a concerning joke about carrying a bomb. The incident, sparked by frustration with additional security checks, resulted in the passenger’s arrest and potential charges for public mischief.
48-year-old Saju K Kumaran, reportedly traveling to Kerala to offer condolences after his niece’s death, boarded the flight with visible distress. According to sources, when additional security checks were conducted within the cabin prior to takeoff, Kumaran grew agitated and, in a moment of apparent frustration, remarked to staff, “Do you think I’m carrying a bomb or knife?”
This seemingly lighthearted comment, however, was interpreted as a serious threat by both crew and fellow passengers. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was immediately alerted, and Kumaran was promptly deboarded for further security checks. While no harmful items were found in his belongings, the authorities viewed his actions as a grave breach of protocol and a potential case of public mischief.
Consequently, Kumaran was detained and taken to the Bengaluru Airport police station. A case was filed against him under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with statements conducing to public mischief and carries potential penalties of imprisonment and fines.
Though Kumaran reportedly attributed his behavior to the emotional turmoil caused by the recent family tragedy, the authorities are taking the incident seriously and conducting further investigations to verify his claims. This episode serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible conduct during air travel and the potentially serious consequences of jeopardizing flight security, even unintentionally.
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