Andhra Pradesh

Denied boarding pass, TDP MP Diwakar Reddy creates ruckus, throws a printer

Written by : TNM Staff

In a growing list of political leaders throwing tantrums when denied VIP treatment, TDP MP JC Diwakar Reddy reportedly created a ruckus at the Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday morning, after he was denied a boarding pass for arriving late.

Reports state that the MP was on his way to board an Indigo flight to Hyderabad and was 15 minutes late. 

NDTV reported that the TDP leader had an argument with the airline staff, and even vandalised property, picking up and throwing the printer that issued boarding passes.

The Indian Express reported that the incident was caught on CCTV cameras, and grainy footage showed Reddy arguing with the airline officials.  

Times Now reported that Reddy was later allowed to board the plane after the ruckus.

Media reports added, however, that airline officials had filed a complaint with airport authorities over the incident. 

However, there is no official confirmation from both sides, on the incident. Further details on the incident are awaited.

This is not Reddy's first time throwing a fit at an airport. In October last year, he was caught on camera creating a ruckus at the Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada.

At that time too, Reddy had reportedly arrived late for his Air India flight, and was not allowed to board the plane.

Reddy’s latest incident comes two months after Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad  assaulted an Air India senior manager on March 23. 

Gaikwad's behaviour had sparked off a nationwide debate, including in Parliament, as Gaikwad received a temporary ban from all private airlines as well as Air India.

The ban was later lifted, after he issued an apology and an undertaking that such incidents would not recur.

Diwakar Reddy – the MP from Anantapur – is also a businessman and the owner of Diwakar Travels, along with his brother and TDP MLA JC Prabhakar Reddy.

Incidentally, the incident with Diwakar Reddy occurred on the same day that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu suspended TDP MLC Deepak Reddy, a close relative of Diwakar, for his alleged involvement in a Hyderabad land scam.

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