3 arrested for flying drones in Mumbai, IndiGo airline pilot had seen their drone while landing

A day after an IndiGo airline pilot reported spotting a drone near the city airport, police have arrested three persons who were responsible for flying the drone.

Rahul Rajkumar Jaiswal (24), Rana Subhash Singh (25) and Vidhichand Jaiswal (45) were arrested by Crime Branch unit-11, police said.

Earlier this week Ashish Ranjan, the pilot of an IndiGo Airlines flight from Dehradun, had told authorities that he spotted a drone some 100 metres below the aircraft, while landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at around 7.30 PM.

During investigation, it was revealed a drone camera was being used as part of preparations for a film shoot in Charkop area of Western suburbs. The actual film shoot was scheduled later, they said.

The pilot’s information had led to a security alert.

Police seized the drone camera and an Apple iPad from the accused. “After all legal formalities accused and seized property was handed over to Charkop police station for further necessary action,” said additional commissioner of police, crime, KMM Prasanna.

Rahul and Rana were handling the camera, while Vidhichand runs a business of renting out drones, police said.

The trio, booked under IPC Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), was handed over to Charkop Police after registration of an FIR.

Last year, Trombay police had detained an employee of a property website for using a drone to photograph the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Use of drones in Mumbai’s skies is banned due to security reasons.