Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Jun 17: Two days after a complaint was filed by a woman passenger alleging harassment by taxi drivers at Mangalore International Airport (MIA) for hiring an Ola cab, a social worker on Monday June 16 referred the case to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) urging a probe into the taxi management system at the airport and action against the accused taxi drivers.
It may be recalled that Sapna (named changed to protect privacy), IT professional, had allegedly been harassed and chased by taxi drivers at Mangaluru airport on June 12. She had arrived from Bengaluru after receiving news that her father-in-law was in a critical condition, and to avoid any delays, her family had booked an Ola cab to fetch her from the airport. However, the taxi drivers at the airport not only allegedly manhanded the Ola cab driver, but also threatened and chased Sapna.
Daijiworld was the first to break the news and report the incident in detail. The news received massive response from daijiworld readers.
In the letter to the CVC, the social worker, who did not want to be identified, narrated the entire incident based on the complaint, and stated that many readers of daijiworld had pointed out at corrupt practices at the airport. "Many readers have commented on the various corruption practices and system violations taking place in Mangalore International Airport Taxi Management System," the letter states, urging, "...plead you to intervene and seek to conduct and enquiry about all possible corrupt practices in Mangalore International Airport Taxi Management System."
The letter further urges the CVC to go through the readers' comments on Daijiworld to the news and 'identify the elements of corruption in the present tendering system and all other associated management systems.
The letter is accompanied by a copy of the complaint filed in the police station and also a copy of the news and readers' comments in daijiworld.
Bajpe police begin investigation
Meanwhile, the case which was initially filed at the women's police station at Pandeshwar has been transferred to Bajpe police station.
As the incident had occured within the jurisdiction of Bajpe police station, the case has been transferred there and investigation has already begun, police sources revealed. It is also learnt that the police not only visited the airport for investigation, but also summoned some persons to the station for enquiry. However, no arrest has been made yet.
Police sources also said that CCTV images have been examined and some of the persons involved in the incident have been identified.
What is the Central Vigilance Commission?
The CVC is an apex, autonomous body that addresses corruption at the governmental level. It monitors all vigilance activity under the central governmnet and has the power to inquire or to cause inquiries to be conducted into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 by certain categories of public servants of the central government, corporations established by or under any central act, government companies, societies and local authorities owned or controlled by the central government. The Commission also exercises superintendence over the vigilance administration of the various ministries/departments/public sector enterprises/public sector banks and autonomous organizations under the central government.
If the CVC accepts the complaint and orders a probe, it might turn out to be a big setback for Mangalore International Airport, which according to a survey by the Airports Authority of India, currently ranks second in terms of customer satisfaction.