Pawan Khera arrested soon after he was deplaned; Congress leaders staged dharna at tarmac

Congress leader Pawan Khera was arrested at the Delhi airport today after he was deplaned from an IndiGo flight to Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur. Nearly 50 Congress leaders launched a rare protest on the tarmac, refusing to let the flight leave. Pawan Khera, a senior Congress spokesperson, was forced to exit the IndiGo flight. He was flying with a large group of Congress leaders to Raipur for a meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

Pawan Khera was arrested by the Assam Police, who arrived at the airport with an FIR. Several Congress leaders got off the plane and protested on the Delhi airport tarmac, shouting slogans and staging a sit-in right next to the aircraft.

IndiGo Airline said: "A passenger was deplaned by the police at the Delhi airport from Raipur-bound flight 6E 204. Some other passengers have also decided to deboard on their own accord. We are following the advice of the concerned authorities. The flight is delayed as of now and we regret the inconvenience caused to other passengers."

Khera said he was first told that there was trouble with his baggage. "I was told that there is an issue with my baggage, though I only had hand baggage. They told me you can't fly. Then they said the DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) will meet you. I have been waiting for a long time. There is no sign of law and order," he said.