Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Union Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP, allegedly assaulted the station manager of Kingfisher Airlines at Patna Airport on Monday. The incident took place when he was not allowed to board Patna-Kolkata flight, as he reported late at the airport.

In a statement, Kingfisher Airlines, giving a detailed account of the happenings, said: “Considering the fact that the aircraft had begun taxiing, our Airport Manager told Singh that he could not join the flight as we were told that he was not coming. That was when Singh assaulted and abused our Airport Manager in the VIP lounge in the presence of several witnesses.”

Giving his version, Das said Mamata Travel Agency, which had booked the ticket for the minister, had got it cancelled over telephone, saying the minister had changed his travel plan. However, Singh arrived at the airport around 8.20 pm after the door of the aircraft was closed and insisted on being allowed to board the plane.

Das added that the captain had already taken signal from the ATC for take off. He said he met Singh in the VIP departure lounge, and expressed his inability to accommodate the MP and apologised for the inconvenience, but Singh flew into a rage and slapped and abused him in the presence of several people.

The Minister of state for Food told reporters at Howrah station, after disembarking from Danapur Express, that such an allegation was “unfortunate”. He said he has also informed the Civil Aviation ministry about the matter.