Chennai airport police have arrested a former Airports Authority of India (AAI) official for allegedly collecting ₹23 lakh from 12 cargo vehicle drivers and their family members by promising permanent jobs at the airport and its cargo complex.
The accused, identified as 52-year-old Kumari Kala of Malaipattu near Sriperumbudur in Kancheepuram district, had served as a senior superintendent with AAI at Chennai airport. According to police, she took voluntary retirement in 2025 and later operated air cargo vehicles on a contract basis.
Police said Kala continued to visit the airport’s cargo area after her retirement and introduced herself to cargo vehicle drivers as a senior airport official. She allegedly told them that she could arrange well-paid, permanent positions at the airport and cargo offices for educated members of their families.
Several drivers approached her seeking employment for their children, police said. Kala allegedly collected between ₹1 lakh and ₹2 lakh from each applicant. However, the applicants did not receive appointment orders even after waiting for six months, prompting the families to make inquiries with airport authorities.
The families then learnt that Kala had retired from AAI in 2025. Subsequently, 12 affected drivers and their family members filed a complaint with the airport police. Police registered a case and arrested Kala in connection with the alleged fraud.
The case highlights the employment pressures surrounding large airport and cargo operations, where permanent posts, outsourced work and contractor-linked jobs often exist alongside a large pool of applicants seeking access to formal employment. In this case, police allege that the accused used her previous association with the airport and continued presence in the cargo area to create the impression that she could influence recruitment.
Police also said their inquiry found that Kala had collected money from several people by promising jobs even while she was still in service. The former official had faced departmental inquiries over similar complaints, according to the police account reported by the Times of India.
The allegations relate to recruitment promises rather than any confirmed appointment process by AAI. The report does not indicate that the airport operator authorised Kala to collect money or offer jobs. Applicants and families seeking employment at airports and cargo facilities are generally required to rely on formal notifications and authorised recruitment channels, though the police investigation will determine the full circumstances of the alleged transactions.
The arrest is the immediate action reported in the case. Further investigation is expected to establish the number of people who may have paid money, the transactions involved and whether others were connected to the alleged job scheme.
