Air India Express — Rs 19,000 stolen from luggage on Air India flight

Address:

Bangalore, Karnataka

Hello, I, Shubhankar Chakravorty, had visited Kolkata on July 29 for my grandmother's death by Indigo flight 6E-433. I returned to Bangalore on Aug. 2 around 20.20 from Kolkata, on Air India flight AI-771, but my luggage (a yellow and gray Wildcraft backpack with no provision to lock) didn't reach. I had my clothes, toiletries, food - usual stuff in it, along with a folder with all my degrees, certificates, very vital documents, contracts, passport, pan-card, debit cards in it, basically everything about my existence so far and Rs 19, 000 cash. Air India couldn't trace the bag for four hours, during which I waited at the airport after filing my complaint, because my house key was in my bag as well and not being originally from Bangalore I had nowhere else to go. Air India did offer me Rs 2, 000 compensation but there is no hotel within 5 km radius of the airport, so I had to stay back. At about 00.50 on Aug. 3, Air India ground staff, Mr Naveen, informed me that the bag has been located in Chennai airport. He assured me I'll get it my bag earliest on Sunday, Aug. 3 morning and it'd be couriered to my house. On that assurance I left to stay at a colleagues place. When I received my bag at about 11.50 on Aug. 3, it was delivered sealed in a plastic bag, when I opened it, the sticker on the bag's clip was broken, the order in which I had arranged my stuff was altered, my pan card and debit cards were lying inside my bag, out from the file where I keep it. And my file had all the other documents were there but the Rs 19, 000 cash - 36 Rs 500 notes and one Rs 1, 000 note - was missing. On contacting Air India on phone, they refuse to take charge telling me it was my fault that I kept valuables in check-in luggage. A certain Ms Chitra from Air India ground staff at Bangalore airport asked me what is the proof that I had Rs 19, 000 cash in my bag and there's nothing they can do, I have signed and received my luggage and their duty was done. I have never felt more cheated in my life and to top it all being accused of lying by Air India staff about the existence of money in my bag. Now their phone is either busy or is not picked by the person I believe in duty, Mr Nitin. On Aug 3 afternoon, Mr Nitin kept showing me I haven't mentioned "cash" while filing missing baggage complaint on Aug 2 evening. While fact remains I repeatedly told Mr Naveen, that there's Rs 19, 000 cash in the bag on Aug. 2 evening. I had to make Mr Naveen tell Mr Nitin that I indeed told him I had Rs 19, 000 cash in my bag. The Mr Nitin asked me if the flight was on Aug. 2 evening or Aug. 1 evening. What is this? I request you Sir, please immediately action into it by Air India authority. I understand Air India advises very clearly to not carry valuables in check-in luggage, but it also claims that no employees would ever open personal baggage, besides delivering the luggage on right time to the right destination. Air India needs to understand that I carrying valuables in check-in bag, as long as it's legal, is not a violation of law or any rules, but what in fact is a violation is opening the bag and stealing from it. In fact it's a crime punishable by law in India. Not to forget to send the luggage to a random destination unaccompanied by a passenger is a serious violation of airline safety and law. I've already filed a police complaint and shall have to take necessary legal action to resolve the matter. My Air India complaint no.: BLRAI 32906