Minister of State for Law, PP Chaudhary told a private television news channel that if a person commits a crime he can be punished but he cannot be prevented from flying.
"There is no such law that restricts a person from flying. If somebody has committed a crime, then you can punish him. But refusing a ticket is no punishment when there is no such law. And, to my knowledge, there is no such law," Chaudhary said.
"We have to see if this action of the airlines is within the framework of law," Sinha said.
However, airlines defended the move, saying imposing a a ban on a person from flying is very much within their jurisdiction.
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Sources also cited Rule 22 and 23 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937, to justify the ban on Gaekwad.
As per Schedule VI of Aircraft Rules, 1937 such an offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or with fine not exceeding Rs 5 lakh.
Meanwhile, Gaikwad boarded Hazrat Nizamuddin-Rajdhani for Mumbai this evening. According to television news channel Times Now, Gaikwad boarded the train from Nizamuddin Railway Station here but disembarked at Mathura station complaining of chest pain.
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