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Showing posts from May, 2005

Air India : sleeper class at economy price

Steaming aromatic Indian cuisine, sari clad smart airhostess and background music of santoor with a punch line of 98% on- time schedule would enchant anyone who sees this Air India advertisement. When I was offered an option to travel MUM-LA-MUM by Air India, everything seemed in place including direct flight with no stopover in Europe. However, nothing seemed in place right from the word go and the script did not deviate much until I cleared my baggage at Chatrapati Shivaji terminal in Mumbai on return. Boeing Khajuraho looked impressive from outside but high expectations quickly disappeared when it turned out to be an age-old leased Korean airlines aircraft. Hopeless attempt to seal open cigarette armrest ash pot with black masking tape and yellow stained toilet plastic mould said it all. Our take off from Mumbai began after a delay of five plus hours freeing all passengers any worries of connecting flights. At the aircraft, plump hostess hiding her girth, peered through thick glass

Resort without sunshine and breeze

I am not sure about the specific difference between Police and Judicial custody, but I guess the very name suggests, one must be near to the court while other to police station. When I learnt about my friend checking out after his 6 night 7 day sojourn, images of “ dingy 8x10 cell”- crammed up with people - peering through vertical rotten iron bars, dilapidated water earthen pot lying in one corner with dim big yellow bulb hanging at the center with cobwebs all over the ceilings” - conjured my imagination. I was keen to learn from my friend about dubai version of the above images but what I learnt was something contrary. Dubai Judicial custody is at the basement of Public Prosecution Building. A centrally air-conditioned place with granite tiles and high ceiling is divided in two different types. Type two has direct access to court so those inmates who need to be produced in the court are moved from Type one to another. Type one: you can call an ordinary custody, houses five rooms of 1

An encounter with Dubai Police and Judicial System

Generally, we prefer to stay away from both police and judicial system. We become even more cautious outside country as expatriate residents. Living in Dubai, my interaction with police was only limited to traffic and immigration procedures that never evoked any tangible reaction except observing them being people friendly. I never thought Tuesday, May 3rd would give an opportunity to have a closer look at these two establishments. It all started with a telephone call from my friend who said he had been arrested by police under charges of alcohol consumption. Despite knowing my friend’s penchant for intoxicating beverages, the news was a big surprise considering the liberal lifestyle of pubs and discotheque but more turmoil was to learn about his being in police lock up. I was told by my friend that next day I should go to Dubai Court to follow up on his early release. Dubai court is nestled along the Dubai Creek just under the Maktoom Bridge that joins two parts of Dubai – Bar Dubai a