Overview

• Rushiraj Sawant, son of Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra minister Tanaji Sawant, was traveling to Bangkok on a chartered flight with two friends when the plane was diverted back to Pune.
• The diversion was prompted by an anonymous call to Pune police alleging Rushiraj's kidnapping, which led to a criminal case being registered.
• The flight crew initially dismissed the recall request as a potential hoax but complied after verification from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• Rushiraj and his friends were unaware of the diversion until landing in Pune, where they were escorted off the plane by CISF personnel.
• Opposition leaders have accused Tanaji Sawant of misusing police resources to recall the flight, as investigations revealed the trip was kept secret from his family to avoid disapproval.