Mayank Agarwal files police complaint after in-flight health scare

India cricketer Mayank Agarwal has filed a police complaint after drinking liquid from a pouch on a New Delhi-bound flight landed him in a hospital. Mayank, who has played 21 Tests for India, on Tuesday was rushed to a hospital in Agartala after he fell ill on an IndiGo flight after drinking liquid from a pouch, which he thought was water, and was kept on his seat as he was on board, news agency PTI reported.

The India opener, who is now out of danger, has now filed an official police complaint through his manager alleging foul-play.

“Mayank Agarwal, an international cricket player. Now he is stable and his vitals are normal. But his manager has lodged a specific complaint under NCCPS (New Capital Complex Police Station) to investigate the matter,” SP West Tripura Kiran Kumar told PTI.

Elaborating further on the complaint, the cop also said: “His manager said that when he was sitting in the aeroplane, there was a pouch in front of him. He drank a little bit not much but suddenly there was irritation in his mouth and suddenly he couldn’t talk also and was brought to ILS hospital. He had swelling and ulcers in the mouth. Otherwise his vitals are stable.”

State health secretary Kiran Gitte added: “Police has admitted his complaint and we will investigate as to what happened. As per his manager, he will travel tomorrow to Bengaluru and meanwhile whatever best treatment is available in Agartala, we will provide him.”

Mayank was admitted to ILS Hospital in Agartala. The hospital released a statement on Tuesday evening in which it said: Mayank Agarwal was “experiencing some oral irritation and swelling on his lips. After being assessed by the consultants of the hospital in emergency, he was admitted. For now, he is clinically stable and is being constantly clinically monitored.”

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has shared that the cricketer, who led Karnataka to a 29-run win against Tripura on Monday, will not play next Ranji Trophy game against Railways in Surat.

“He (Agarwal) is not in any kind of danger. He is under observation currently in a hospital at Agartala, and we will fly him back to Bengaluru once we get an update from the doctors, which we are expecting tonight,” a KSCA official said.

“He will not be playing in Karnataka’s next match (against Railways at Surat from February 2). But other than that, there is no truth in any rumours going around. He is stable now, and we are in touch with doctors and other state officials,” the official added.

IndiGo has also issued a release on the matter but didn’t clarify the reason for medical emergency.

“IndiGo flight 6E 5177 operating from Agartala to Delhi returned to origin due to a medical emergency onboard. The passenger was off-loaded and was rushed to the hospital for further medical assistance. The aircraft took off again for its destination at 1620h,”IndiGo said in its press release.