Poll officials check Shah's aircraft, 'spare' Rahul's chopper

The flying squad of Dharwad district checked the special aircraft of BJP president Amit Shah during his transit visit to Hubballi on Tuesday.

The three-member squad led by S A Karpali (Nodal officer), R N Eeregouda and Yogananda (Flying Squad Magistrates) checked both the special flight and the helicopter used by Shah. Shah was not carrying any baggage with him, they said. Shah flew to Kaginele in Haveri district to attend BJP's backward class convention.

However, sources in the police department and Hubballi Airport Authority said that no such checks were conducted on special flight of Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Rahul flew to Shivamogga from Hubballi airport in a charted helicopter. However, his eight baggage where taken to Davangere via road.

Airport authorities, requesting anonymity, said that they are allowed to check only baggage of passengers boarding at Hubballi and not that of passengers exiting from the airport.

However, Deputy Commissioner S B Bommanahalli, who is also the returning officer, said that both the special flights were not thoroughly checked but only randomly checked by the nodal
officials.