Ex-minister’s son pulled off Bangkok flight over ‘kidnapping’ alert
A chartered flight carrying India’s former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant’s son, Rishiraj Sawant, and two friends was recalled to Pune under extraordinary circumstances. Police ordered the abrupt diversion after an anonymous tip-off claimed Rishiraj had been kidnapped, triggering an urgent police response.
The private jet, which took off for Bangkok on Monday, February 10, was redirected after aviation officials verified the alert. Initially, the airline dismissed the recall request as a possible hoax, but after confirmation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the flight was forced to turn back.
An airline executive described the situation as highly unusual.
“Mid-air diversions typically occur for medical or technical emergencies. This was an unprecedented case of a flight being recalled due to a criminal investigation.”
The aircraft was flying over Port Blair when the recall was issued. To avoid panic, passengers were kept in the dark, with in-flight navigation screens switched off.
Sawant and his companions remained oblivious, assuming they were still en route to Bangkok. When the flight landed back in Pune between 8pm and 8.30pm, security forces stormed the aircraft.
Stunned, the Indian former minister’s son and his friends confronted the pilots, only to be told they were following official orders. The trio was then swiftly escorted off the plane by CISF personnel.
The saga began at 4pm on Monday when Pune police received an anonymous call claiming Sawant had been abducted. His father rushed to the police commissioner’s office, leading to an immediate kidnapping case.
However, investigations later revealed that the younger Sawant had secretly chartered the flight for a business trip, fearing family objections, reported English Jagran.
Local Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders criticised the swift police action, questioning whether the former minister had influenced law enforcement to recall his son. Police have yet to confirm if further action will be taken.
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