Tehelka Magazine today claimed some officials, bureaucrats and other VIPs had “abused” their status to get free tickets and other facilities from Jet Airways in a gross violation of service rules and propriety.
At a press conference here, Ramesh Ramachandran, the magazine’s political editor, alleged that Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, had got several upgrades on international sectors for himself, one of his associates and his children and his mother.
A senior IPS officer from West Bengal, who was on deputation to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), had taken his family to 28 destinations abroad paying only a small fraction of the cost.
#Tehelka #JetgateExpose blows the lid off a free air ticket scandal involving bureaucrats, politicians & other VVIPs http://t.co/IAdmB28DC9
— Tehelka (@Tehelka) November 28, 2014
None of those named by Tehelka were available for comments.
Tehelka’s allegations “misplaced”: Jet Airways
Jet Airways termed the Tehelka magazine’s allegations about granting free tickets and upgrades to VIPs as “misplaced” and “unfortunate”, saying it was the common global industry practise.
“Upgrades are a common industry practice in the global travel, tourism and service sectors and are extended to passengers subject to availability at the discretion of the service-provider.
Jet Airways has the prerogative to afford its guests privileges, including upgrades, at its discretion and does not stand alone in this practice.
“The insinuations and allegations in the article are misplaced and unfortunate,” a statement from Jet Airways said
