PDP leader Madani disallowed to take flight on security ground

Bengaluru, Jul 4: People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in Bengaluru serial blasts who was granted permission by a court here to visit his ailing mother in Kerala, was not allowed to board a flight at the airport here on security grounds.

IndiGo airlines said he was not allowed to fly on security grounds.

"Mr. Abdul Nasir Maudany (Madani) who was scheduled to travel on 6E-407 from Bangalore to Kochi on July 4, 2016 was not accepted to fly on grounds of the security requirement," IndiGo said in a statement said here.

It said "This passenger was escorted by the local police authorities - this required permissions from the security regulator.

"Following the protocol, the staff requested the passenger to present the required documents, failing which the passenger was asked to procure the necessary permission to fly on board," it said.

A special National Investigation Agency court based on the Supreme Court directions had recently fixed the date for his travel from July 4 to July 12.

It had directed the city police to provide necessary security arrangements.

Listing out the instructions to be strictly adhered to by all concerned for carriage of person under judicial custody/ administrative control as per the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) regulations, IndiGo said as an airline, it always complies with the security agencies regulations.

As per the BCAS Regulations, it said, the policing authority responsible for carriage of a prisoner by air shall indicate classification of such prisoner as dangerous or otherwise in their application addressed to the Commissioner or Regional Dy Commissioner of Security (CA), BCAS.

Also, it stipulates that a minimum of two escorts of the policing authority shall be required for one prisoner who is classified as dangerous by the policing authority.

It also noted that aircraft operator should not accept a prisoner and escort(s) as passengers unless concurrence has been obtained in advance from the BCAS and other operators that may be involved en route and at the intended final destination.

In such cases sufficient advance notification must be given to operator so that prior agreements can be obtained, the airline added.

Madani had been arrested in connection with the July 2008 serial blasts that killed one person and injured several others here.