Air India Express Pilot Who Assaulted Passenger at Delhi Airport Placed on No-Fly List by IndiGo

Reported by: Manish Agrawal | Curated by NBT Desk | 20 Jan 2026, 3:00 PM IST

New Delhi: Captain Virendra Sejwal of Air India Express, who assaulted passenger Ankit Diwan at Delhi Airport on 19 December, has been placed on the No-Fly List by IndiGo Airlines. On the day of the incident, Sejwal was traveling on an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Bengaluru, not his own airline. Air India Express had suspended him immediately following the assault, and police action was subsequently taken against him.

CISF Action and Investigation
When asked about why CISF officers allowed the accused pilot to board his flight despite the incident, DG Ranjan clarified that the CISF personnel on duty took immediate preventive action. Their report formed the basis for police action, and the matter was investigated thoroughly.

Enhanced Airport Security Measures
Officials confirmed that full-body scanners have been installed at four major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kochi. Currently under trial, these scanners have met expectations, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is expected to grant approval for permanent use soon.

Additionally, the CISF has deployed CCTV cameras equipped with Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) at Delhi and Mumbai airports, and plans are underway to expand this to other high-security airports. The AI-enabled system can detect unattended objects, suspicious behavior, and alert the control room in real-time. In the future, images of wanted terrorists and gangsters will also be integrated into the system.

Agneepath Cadre Recruitment Study
Under government policy, Agniveer recruitment will be extended to Central Armed Police Forces like CISF and BSF. The first batch, trained by the Navy, is expected this year. A study is being conducted to determine the optimal deployment of Agniveers within these forces.

Parliament Security Update
Following an incident where a Member of Parliament brought a dog into the Parliament premises, CISF clarified that while Parliament rules prohibit pets, enforcement is governed by parliamentary regulations. CISF personnel do not have authority to inspect MPs’ belongings but are responsible for overall security.