Sedition charges slapped against Deogarh bureaucrat amid ATC entry feud

The Deoghar airport incident spiralled hours after an FIR was lodged against BJP MPs for allegedly coercing airport officials to issue clearance for their charter plane for take-off. The FIR named MPs Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari and seven others for allegedly forcing officials, moreover, to enter air traffic control (ATC) without permission.

Following this, a Zero FIR was filed by Delhi Police at North Avenue Police Station, slapping sedition, amongst other charges, on Deogahr District Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri. In the aftermath of the FIR against BJP leaders, a verbal spat ensued between the district commissioner and BJP MP Nishant Dubey.

The Zero FIR comprised several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Officials Secrets Act.

ALSO READ | No rules violated: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on row over entry into Deoghar airport ATC

Meanwhile, the FIR against the BJP MPs, who were returning after meeting the family of Ankita Singh who was burnt alive in Dumka, carried sections of the IPC and the Aircraft Act. Deoghar airport director Sandeep Dhingra has been named in this FIR too.

Speaking to India Today, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari stated that the Zero FIR was lodged against the DC as he barged into the ATC without any authority.

“We have filed zero FIR against Deoghar DC for illegally accessing the CCTV footage. There is a procedure to retrieve such footage, which was not followed. We did nothing wrong. Nishikant Dubey is chairman of Deoghar airport, he has the right to move freely in the airport complex. I am a member of the standing committee, and I also have the right to do so,” said Tiwari.

“Deoghar Airport falls under the Local Administration, not CISF. We are not denying it. We have entered those areas but we have the authority for doing so,” he said.

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