Air India SATS vice-chief chargesheeted for alleged sexual harrassment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Museum police have submitted a charge sheet in the Judicial First Class Magistrate court against Binoy Jacob, vice-president of Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited, an agency offering ground handling services, for alleged sexual harassment of a woman employee. Earlier, the police had filed another charge sheet in the same court against the Binoy in a similar complaint filed by another woman employee.

The police filed the charge sheet last week based on the  complaints made by the two women. The accused has been booked under Sections 354(A) (punishment for sexual harassment) and (D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the police, Binoy Jacob had spoken to the two complainants in sexually explicit language on several occasions. “The allegations have been proven in the probe, Sunil said.

The incident took place in January last year at the AI-SATS office at Sasthamangalam where the victim worked as an employee.  

According to the charge sheet, Binoy called the 33-year-old complainant to his cabin and offered higher posts in exchange for ‘sexual favours’. When she refused his advances, the accused threatened to expel her from the job. He also used to send messages to the victims’ mobile phone.   

Both the complainants told police they had raised the issue with the organisation and an inquiry was conducted. They decided to approach the police as the organisation failed to act on their complaint. Jacob also faces a CBI probe on alleged irregularities in payment of ground handling royalty charges. He is also accused of faking a sexual assault complaint against an Air India employee, L S Shibu, who exposed the irregularities.

Meanwhile AISATS said the company was not aware about an additional chargesheet against Bijoy Jacob.

“AISATS is a gender-neutral, equal opportunities employer with a zero tolerance policy towards any form of harassment or discrimination at workplace. We strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the
Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act. We are not aware of an additional charge sheet against Binoy Jacob as stated by the media, however if called upon we will extend our complete support to the investigation”, said an officer.