A senior Air India pilot, who was suspended in May last year after being accused of sexual harassment by a woman colleague, has been found guilty by an internal committee but has been reinstated recently, officials said.

The committee imposed a “major penalty” on Captain Sachin Gupta, who has now appealed to the next authority against the punishment, they said.

In response to specific queries, P.S. Negi, regional director (Northern Region), Air India, told PTI: “The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Air India conducted the enquiry proceedings and found Captain Sachin Gupta guilty of the charges of misconduct.”

The immediate competent disciplinary authority has imposed a “major penalty” according to the company’s service regulation that is applicable to Gupta, he said.

Another Air India official said on condition of anonymity that Gupta has been “reinstated as instructor”.