Woman pilot granted bail

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rakesh Pandit granted bail to Gulati saying there is "zero possibility" now of risking the lives of innocent passengers as she cannot fly an aircraft again.

"The nature of the offence is such that the accused cannot repeat it even in case if she desires so. As she cannot be permitted to fly the aircraft again without having license and due to that reason, there is zero possibility of risking the lives of innocent passengers," the court said, granting her bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the same amount.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Gualti, told the court that her client had already suffered the consequences of the alleged crime and she is entitled to bail as she is an estranged woman having a 7-year-old child.

The bail plea was opposed by the Additional Public Prosecutor on the ground that she had tried to obtain the license from Directorate General of Civil Aviation on fake documents.

The court, however, took into account the fact that Gulati had already suffered the "social consequence" and had to look after her minor child."The accused is living separately from her husband along with her minor child whom she has to support. She has already suffered the social consequences i.e. losing of job on account of her alleged act. No useful purpose shall be fulfilled by keeping her in custody," the court said.

The court also noted that the accused cannot interfere with the probe into the case, which includes recovery of relevant documents as the information is in the possession of DGCA.

The court also directed Gulati not to leave the country without its permission.
Indigo airline's Parminder Kaur Gulati, 38, who has been grounded, was arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police from her Kirti Nagar residence on March 8 following investigations into a complaint filed by DGCA.

She is alleged to had obtained the mandatory Airlines Transport Pilot License (ALTP) after allegedly producing forged documents.

Gulati, who is a Captain with the budget air carrier, was grounded on January 11 following an incident of hard landing of the private airline's flight to Goa