Barely weeks after the storm over the out-of-turn promotions he granted on his last day in office at the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), the former chairman and managing director of the merged Air India-Indian Airlines, V. Thulasidas, is set to court another controversy for availing of post-retirement benefits that he was not only not eligible for but had also been barred by the Delhi High Court.

According to records obtained by The Indian Express and airline sources, the former IAS officer has flown on at least 12 free tickets while his wife has done five of those free journeys with him — all on executive or business class, after he retired on March 31 when he is not entitled to free tickets.

Thulasidas, who flew Indian to New Delhi from Mumbai on one of those free tickets today, is due to fly back on another free ticket on Tuesday, which would take the total number of free tickets used by the couple after his retirement to at least 18.

Thulasidas, when contacted by The Indian Express and asked about this, declined to comment.

For instance, according to a “Gratis Transportation” request made by Air India’s Commercial Manager for Western India on April 16, the Commercial Manager of NACIL was asked to provide “complimentary transportation” for “our staff” V. Thulasidas and his wife Girija Thulasidas to fly Mumbai-Delhi-Muscat-Mumbai in executive class on Indian.

Further, under a reciprocal arrangement Air India has with private carrier Jet Airways — which allows some senior executives of the two airlines to fly free on each others’ flights — the couple flew Mumbai-London-Mumbai in premiere class on Jet, with the onward journey being made on May 18 and returned on May 25.

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