In a rapidly escalating diplomatic and corporate standoff, Turkish aviation services company Çelebi Aviation has filed a legal challenge against the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, a move it argues was made on vague and unjustified national security grounds. The development has raised concerns about foreign investor confidence and nearly 4,000 jobs, as geopolitical tensions between India, Pakistan, and Turkey seep into corporate corridors.
On Thursday, May 16, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation abruptly pulled Celebi’s security clearance, a crucial credential required for companies handling sensitive airport operations such as ground handling and cargo. The decision, officials said, was made in the “interest of national security.” No details were publicly disclosed about the alleged threat posed by Celebi, which has been operating in India for over a decade.
Celebi, in its petition filed with the Delhi High Court, pushed back forcefully, accusing the Indian government of making an arbitrary decision based on undefined allegations. “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 said in its filing, which was reviewed by Reuters.
The Turkish firm is seeking to overturn the government’s decision, warning that the sudden revocation could impact 3,791 jobs in India and send a chilling message to foreign investors. Celebi currently provides ground-handling services at major Indian airports, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, and Kerala.
In its petition, Celebi emphasized that it had undergone comprehensive security and background checks by Indian intelligence and aviation authorities before beginning operations. “There was no prior warning or notice. The decision came without engagement or justification,” the company argued, labeling the order as vague and legally indefensible.
Political and Public Pressure Mounts
The cancellation appears to be driven not just by bureaucratic or legal concerns, but also political and public sentiment. In recent days, anti-Celebi protests erupted in Mumbai, led by the Shiv Sena, a right-wing nationalist party and a coalition partner in the Narendra Modi government. Protesters demanded that Celebi be removed from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, citing the company’s Turkish roots and Turkey’s perceived support for Pakistan in its ongoing conflict with India over Kashmir.
The protests were emotionally charged, with demonstrators waving Indian flags and calling for a “boycott of Turkish interests.” The situation has stirred nationalist fervor, especially as India heads toward general elections and diplomatic tensions with Pakistan remain high.
Adding fuel to the fire, India’s junior aviation minister, Murlidhar Mohol, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that Celebi’s removal came in response to “requests from across India to ban Celebi” and said the government acted in alignment with “the call to protect national interests.”
Celebi’s Defense: “We’re Not a Turkish Threat”
While Celebi’s corporate origin is Turkish, the company was quick to stress in its legal filing that it is not a geopolitical pawn. The firm stated that although shareholders are registered in Turkey, the majority control is exercised by entities that are neither Turkish-incorporated nor Turkish-owned.
“We are not a security threat,” a senior Celebi official told journalists on condition of anonymity. “We have operated with full compliance, maintained transparent operations, and engaged closely with Indian authorities at every step.”
The company’s case hinges on whether the Indian government can substantiate its claims with evidence-based reasoning, or whether the decision was motivated more by political optics than actual risk.
Even before a court could hear Celebi’s petition, the practical consequences began to unfold. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced late Thursday that it had “officially ended its association” with Celebi for both ground handling and cargo operations, a move likely to be mirrored at other airports under public or political pressure.
This abrupt severing of business ties will likely disrupt airport operations, especially given Celebi’s scale and expertise in cargo management and passenger services roles that cannot be easily replaced overnight.
The standoff sends a cautionary signal to international investors and foreign businesses operating in politically sensitive sectors in India. If a well-established company like Celebi, vetted by Indian agencies, can be suddenly ousted without detailed reasoning, others may begin to question the stability of regulatory frameworks and the risks of geopolitical entanglement.
As the case moves forward possibly beginning Monday, when the Delhi High Court is expected to take it up all eyes will be on the government’s defense, and whether it can legally and publicly justify invoking the shield of national security without breaching transparency norms.
For now, Celebi remains in limbo, its operations disrupted, and its reputation caught in the crossfire between international diplomacy, national sentiment, and domestic politics.
