Turkish aviation firm challenges security clearance revocation in Delhi High Court

New Delhi: Turkish aviation firm Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd (CASIPL) has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to overturn the Central government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, calling the move arbitrary and based on “vague” national security concerns.

In its filing, Celebi argued that the order lacked any substantive reasoning and was issued without prior notice. “Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat… is unsustainable in law,” the company stated. Celebi warned that the decision would impact 3,791 jobs, investor confidence, and disrupt essential airport services.

The government on Thursday revoked the security clearance for Turkish ground-handling firm Celebi Airport Services at the Indian airports, as calls grew to ban Turkish businesses in the wake of their country supporting Pakistan which harbours terrorism.

In a notification, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had said that “in the exercise of power conferred upon DG, BCAS, the security clearance in Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of National Security.”

The Turkish company handles around 70 per cent of the ground operations at Mumbai airport, including passenger services, load control, flight operations, cargo and postal services, warehouses and bridge operations.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, had said in a post on X that we have received requests from across India to ban Celebi NAS Airport Services India Ltd, a Turkish company operating ground handling services at Indian airports.

“Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the call to protect national interests, we have taken cognizance of these requests and Ministry of Civil Aviation has revoked security clearance of the said company. Ensuring the safety and interests of the nation remains our top priority,” the minister posted.

Since its entry in 2008, Celebi has expanded its presence in India’s aviation sector. As per reports, the firm is partly owned by Sumeyye Erdogan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sumeyye Erdogan is married to Selcuk Bayraktar, the man who produces Bayraktar military drones which Pakistan used against India.

This suggests that support to Pakistan is not just a matter of Turkish state policy, but one in which Erdogan’s own family is directly involved, according to reports.

IANS