On Tuesday, Air India responded to a complaint made by comedian and actor Vir Das on social media regarding the delay in providing a wheelchair for his wife, who has a broken leg.

Vir Das, who was travelling on flight AI816 from Mumbai to Delhi on April 14, also voiced concerns about broken tables and leg rests on the flight, which cost ₹50,000 per seat.

In its official statement, Air India showed understanding towards the passengers affected and acknowledged that the situation did not meet their expectations.

“We express our sympathy towards the guests, particularly regarding the mobility issue, and we admit that this experience was not up to standard. Our cabin crew did offer assistance, including the use of ‘ambulift’ as per standard operating procedures, but the delay in providing wheelchair support was due to an unexpected surge in demand for wheelchairs and personnel at that time,” the statement from Air India explained.

The airline reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing accessibility and comfort for all passengers.

Vir Das’s remarks about his experience with Air India came shortly before the airline’s clarification. He stated that, despite pre-booking a wheelchair for his wife, he received confused responses from the cabin crew when it was needed.

Das, 45, shared that his wife had to descend the aircraft steps using the stepladder with her fractured foot after landing in Delhi.

The actor also mentioned that despite spending ₹50,000 per seat, they encountered broken tables, damaged leg rests, and a seat that remained reclined.

Describing himself as a loyal customer of Air India, Das expressed regret at having to publicly criticize the airline. In a post shared on X earlier today, the Emmy-winning comedian wrote, “I’m a lifetime loyalist. I believe you’ve got the nicest cabin crew in the sky, this post pains me to write.”

The Uttar Pradesh Police has transferred senior IPS officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Varuna Zone, Chandrakant Meena, from a high-profile gang-rape case involving a 19-year-old girl in Varanasi, according to reports.

This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention during his 50th visit to his parliamentary constituency last week, amid growing outrage over the brutal crime.

Upon landing at Varanasi airport few days ago, Modi was briefed by Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal and other officials about the case, which involves the alleged gang-rape of a young woman by 23 men. Visibly upset, the Prime Minister expressed dismay at the police’s handling of the investigation and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators. He also directed authorities to implement measures to prevent such atrocities in the future, sources said.

Shortly after, a letter from the Inspector General (Personnel) at Uttar Pradesh Police Headquarters confirmed Meena’s transfer to the office of the Director General of Police (DGP). Meena, a 2018-batch officer with a distinguished record, including roles as ADCP Kashi Zone and DCP Crime, becomes the first official to face repercussions for alleged lapses in the case.

The case centers on a 19-year-old from Khajuri, Varanasi, who went missing on March 29, 2025, and was recovered by police on April 4. Her mother filed a complaint on April 6, leading to a gang-rape case against 23 accused—11 identified and 12 unidentified. As of now, 13 suspects are in custody, with 10 still at large, police confirmed.

According to the survivor’s statement, a friend lured her to a hookah bar in Pishachmochan on March 29, where others joined them. She alleges she was drugged with a spiked drink and taken to various hotels in the Sigra area, where she endured repeated assaults over six days. “The ordeal unfolded across multiple locations, orchestrated by a group that exploited her vulnerability,” a senior officer revealed.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has criticized the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government following recent violent protests in Murshidabad over the Waqf Amendment Act. Referring to the unrest, Adityanath said “Bengal is burning” while its Chief Minister remains “silent”.

Addressing a public meeting in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, the BJP leader remarked that “danda” — the Hindi term for a stick — is the only effective solution against rioters. Drawing comparisons, he claimed that prior to 2017, when BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh, riots were a frequent occurrence in the state.

“Danda is the only treatment for rioters. You can see, Bengal is burning. The Chief Minister is silent. She is calling rioters ‘peace ambassadors’,” he stated during his speech.

Adding further, Adityanath used a Hindi proverb to reinforce his stance: “Laton ke bhoot baaton se kahan manne wale hain,” which loosely translates to “Those who respond only to force don’t understand words.”

The Uttar Pradesh CM accused the West Bengal administration of enabling violence under the guise of secularism. “In the name of secularism, they have given freedom to rioters. The government is silent. Such anarchy should be controlled,” he added.

These remarks come amid growing political tension over the Waqf Amendment Act, with opposition voices criticizing both state and central policies. The violence in Murshidabad has drawn widespread attention, placing the West Bengal government under scrutiny.