Mangaluru Airport staff accused of tearing Dubai-bound woman’s passport

coastaldigest.com web desk

February 14, 2019

Mangaluru, Feb 14: It was a harrowing experience for a Dubai-bound Indian expatriate woman after her passport was apparently damaged by the staff at Mangaluru International Airport.

The latest incident of passport tampering took place on February through when Rubeena Hashim (28), a native of Kerala was travelling back to Dubai along with her two children Fathima (4) and Noora (8 months). Her husband Mohammad (33) works as a trading company public relations officer in UAE.

Rubeena was in for a rude shock when she noticed her passport had been ripped from its seams when she reached the check in counter. “Her passport was in very good condition when they left from home and this could only have been done by airport security staff when she entered the airport,” Mohammad was quoted as saying by a newspaper.

“As she was entering and presenting her and the children’s passports and tickets to the security officer outside the airport, he told her to proceed and get an airport stroller for the children,” he added.

“She went to get the stroller and when she came back he returned their tickets and passports, but in between this time my wife’s passport was tampered with.”

When she got to the check in desk, ground staff then told her she could not travel because her passport was damaged.

“But if it was damaged, she wouldn’t have been allowed to enter the airport in the first place,” said Mohammad.

“She begged and begged and in the end they made her sign a waiver that stated that if she encountered any problems entering the UAE with a damaged passport, Mangalore’s airport authority would not be responsible.”

Even in penning this letter, however, airport staff made things difficult saying she had phrased the letter incorrectly. In the end fellow passengers had to help her write the letter as she tended to the two children, who were by now growing increasingly fractious.

“Luckily once she got to Dubai, airport security staff there were very courteous and just told her to get it replaced at the earliest opportunity,” said Mohammad, but of her treatment in her own country, he added: “They had no humane consideration for my wife who was travelling alone with two small kids.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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