Minister Caught Red-handed In Sting Operation

Vijayawada: Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju was caught red-handed lying in the infamous airport incident of Visakhapatnam in which MP JC Diwakar Reddy roughed-up IndiGo airline staffer.

A sting operation conducted by Republic TV revealed that during the incident the civil aviation minister was in the airport. During the sting operation, the MP unwittingly revealed that the minister was very much present in the airport at that time and also directed the airport manager to issue Diwakar the boarding pass. The MP's statements are bound to embarrass the civil aviation minister as he is on record stating that he is not connected to the ruckus incident at Visakhapatnam airport.

Speaking during the sting operation, Diwakar Reddy said that he would not apologise to anyone. "I got emotional at not being denied the boarding pass and just like any passenger in a rush, I got carried away by the heat of the moment. That is why I shouted at the airline staff," the MP said in his defence.

It may be recalled that on June 15, MP JC Diwakar Reddy created a ruckus at Visakhapatnam airport for being denied a boarding pass. Consequent to the incident, IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Jet Airways added him to their 'no fly' list.