On June 24, 2015, Air India flight AI-446 from Leh to Delhi was due to leave at 10:20 a.m. It left at 11:12. An Indian Air Force report confirmed that the airline had been asked to delay the flight for a “VIP passenger.” Three passengers were not allowed to board. Kiren Rijiju, then Minister of State for Home Affairs, was on the flight with Nirmal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rijiju first said he had not known about the delay. He later apologized: “I must say sorry to those who were offloaded and ensure such incidents are not repeated.”