Shiv Sena MP grounded: Air India cancels Ravindra Gaikwad's ticket fearing backlash from employees

State carrier Air India on Friday barred Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted a staffer, from its flights and even cancelled his return ticket to Pune from here, anticipating a backlash by its employees.

Gaikwad, who has been unapologetic about the incident which took place yesterday, was booked on a Delhi to Pune flight, AI 849, scheduled for departure at 4pm on Friday.

Air India said it has also



written to the Shiv Sena communicating its decision to cancel the ticket. Shiv Sena Secretary Anil Desai said he has asked Gaikwad to change his travel plans as the party doesn't want the tension to escalate.

Gaikwad, an MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra, refused to deboard a Pune-Delhi Air India flight on Thursday morning and hit a AI staffer with slippers 25 times over allegedly being denied a business class seat.