Turkey-based aviation ground handling company Celebi on Friday moved the Delhi High Court against the government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, calling it vague and legally unsustainable. The move comes amidst rising political tensions between India and Turkey over the latter’s vocal support for Pakistan.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) had on Thursday revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India, citing national security concerns. The action followed increasing public and political pressure, with several voices calling for the company to be barred from operating in India due to Turkey’s perceived anti-India stance in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict.
Meanwhile, Mumbai airport on Friday said Indo Thai Airport Services will be carrying out the ground handling works at the airport for three months. “Indo Thai Airport Services has been appointed as the interim ground handling provider at the airport for the next three months with immediate effect, Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) said in a statement, adding that a joint meeting was held with airlines to ensure a smooth and stable transition. Currently, Indo Thai Airport Services operates at nine airports.
Celebi, in its petition filed on Friday, stated that the government order was issued without warning or detailed reasoning. The company said the revocation directly affects nearly 3,800 jobs and could seriously dent investor confidence in India’s aviation sector. It termed the government’s reasoning as vague and lacking any substantive or specific grounds.
“Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat to national security is unsustainable in law,” the company has said in its petition. It also pointed out that while its shareholders are based in Turkey, the controlling interests lie with entities that are not of Turkish origin. It pointed out that 65% of the company is owned by international institutional investors from regions including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, the UAE, and Western Europe. “Actera Partners II LP, a Jersey-registered fund, holds 50% ownership in Celebi Havacilik Holding AS. The remaining 15% is held by Alpha Airport Services BV, a Dutch-registered entity,” Celebi said in a statement.
The matter is expected to come up for hearing in the coming week.
Celebi has been operating in India for over 15 years and provides ground handling services at nine airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Goa. It handles around 58,000 flights and over 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually. The company has also said in its filing that it had undergone thorough background and security verifications by Indian intelligence and security agencies before commencing its operations.
In a separate statement, Celebi reaffirmed its commitment to the Indian market and said it remains fully compliant with all Indian laws, including those related to national security and taxation. It denied all allegations about its ownership structure and operational integrity.
The revocation came after widespread political backlash. Minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol said on X that there had been numerous calls from across the country to ban Celebi in the interest of national security.
Meanwhile, following the government’s move, Delhi International Airport Ltd (Dial) also late on Thursday said that it has formally ended its association with Celebi for both ground handling and cargo terminal management. Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India, which was overseeing cargo functions at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, has also been affected by the fallout.