NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Air India is looking for thieves who stole gifts received by the Indian prime minister during a trip abroad, an official said Friday.

“We will take very stern action once we catch the thief or thieves,” said a senior airline executive.

The state-owned carrier said a number of gifts given to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a recent foreign trip had been stolen from the premier’s Boeing 737.

The incident comes after six bottles of Scotch whisky were taken from a sealed bar while Singh was on a trip to Germany and Uzbekistan in April.

Last month, Air India grounded some crew members after an exhaustive investigation into the liquor theft.

Air India has two Boeings fitted with missile shields and re-configured cabins for use by Singh or President Abdul Kalam.—AFP