India has revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling giant Celebi Aviation, abruptly halting its operations at major Indian airports. This move comes after Turkey publicly backed Pakistan during heightened India-Pakistan tensions and condemned India’s cross-border strikes. The government cited national security concerns as the reason for the decision, sparking a legal battle. What led to this action? WATCH.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Prarambik reports say that they are Turkey's assist guard, Swongar drones.
00:17Let's rewind. Not long ago, India under Operation Dost rushed humanitarian aid to Turkey after a devastating earthquake.
00:25Within hours of the earthquake, on 6 February 2023, India dispatched NDRF teams, medical personnel and relief materials to Turkey.
00:39The Indian Air Force deployed multiple C-17 aircraft-carrying rescue teams, specialized dog squads and equipment like medical supplies, drilling machines and radar for detecting survivors under rubble.
00:55India also provided Garud Aerospaces drones for search and rescue, and modified Kisan drones to deliver medicines and food to affected areas.
01:06But when tensions flared between India and Pakistan, Turkey repaid India's goodwill by sending combat drones to Pakistan.
01:15Pakistan used 300 to 400 Turkish MED-A-Siesgaard Songar drones to launch multiple intrusions across 36 locations along India's western border.
01:27Forensic analysis of drone debris confirmed their Turkish origin.
01:30Reports on social media also claimed that multiple Turkish C-130E Hercules landed in Karachi.
01:39The reports were based on flight tracking data published by open-source intelligence trackers.
01:44The aircraft was seen flying over the Arabian Sea on 28th of April.
01:51However, the claims were refuted by the Turkish Defense Ministry, who said, and I'm quoting it,
01:57a cargo plane from Turkey landed in Pakistan for refueling.
02:01It then continued on its route.
02:03Even a Turkish naval warship, TCGB Okada, a covet, arrived at Karachi for a little, quote-unquote, routine, quote-call.
02:13Just hours after the deadly Pahlkam attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Turkey for its, quote-unquote,
02:22unwavering support on Kashmir during a joint press conference with President Erdogan in Ankara.
02:28Erdogan, in return, pledged Turkey's full backing to Pakistan.
02:34But this isn't just diplomatic lip service.
02:37There is more to it.
02:39Turkey's deepening defense partnership with Pakistan now includes advanced drones and warships.
02:45Not only this, but multiple reports citing sources said that two Turkish military operatives were also killed during Operation Sindur.
02:53These operatives were reportedly helping Pakistani army officials coordinate drone attacks in India.
03:01And while Ankara echoes Pakistan's talking points on Kashmir at global forums, Indians have responded with a growing boycott.
03:10Tourism, trade, education, and yes, aviation, all are feeling the chill.
03:15India has revoked Turkey's Chelebi Aviation's security clearance just days after Ankara decided to snuggle up to Islamabad as Kashmir's Pahlkam bled.
03:26After Chelebi's exit, ground handling at major Indian airports has been taken over by four companies.
03:41Air India Sats, Bird Worldwide Flight Services, Indothai Airport Management Services, and state-owned Air India Air Transport Services Ltd.
03:51On the other hand, cargo terminals are being managed by GMR Group.
03:57Meanwhile, Adani Airport Holdings and other airports are also onboarding Chelebi's staff.
04:03But once a trusted partner on India's airport tarmacs, Turkey's Chelebi Aviation is now fighting the Indian government before the Delhi High Court.
04:11But what sparked this legal turbulence?
04:14Let's begin to understand.
04:21Let's start with the basics.
04:25Chelebi Aviation was founded by Ali Javid Chelebiolo, a Turkish national and former master pilot in the Turkish Air Force.
04:33After his service, Chelebiolo pursued his keen interest in airport ground operations and established Chelebi Ground Handling Services in Ankara in 1958.
04:43This venture became Turkey's first privately owned ground handling services company.
04:48Ali Javid Chelebiolo's son, John Chelebiolo, is the current holding chairman and the founder's daughter, Janan Chelebiolo, is the deputy chairwoman.
04:58Chelebi Aviation provides services such as ground handling, cargo and airport services operating at 70 locations worldwide.
05:06In India, Chelebi has been around for 17 years.
05:11It entered the Indian market in 2007 and in November 2022, Chelebi got its security clearance renewed in India.
05:19It handled everything from passenger check-ins to cargo at nine major airports, which are Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Kannur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad and Chennai.
05:30That's 58,000 flights and 5,40,000 tons of cargo every year.
05:39The firm has about 7,800 employees in India alone.
05:43At Mumbai's Shatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, it had nearly 70% of the ground handling business.
05:50On 13 May, there was a protest at Mumbai airport led by the Shiv Sena party, where the protesters demanded that the airport sever ties with the Turkish ground handling firm.
06:08Two days later, India's Bureau of Civil Aviation Security revoked the security clearance of Turkish firm Chelebi Aviation on 15 May 2025, citing national security concerns, particularly after Turkey publicly backed Pakistan and condemned India's military actions following Operation Sindur.
06:29In a press release, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had said that it was monitoring the situation and arrangements were made so that the services remain unaffected.
06:40Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu has made it clear that nothing is above the security of our nation and our fellow citizens.
06:49He also said that efforts were being made to ensure that employees working with Chelebi are retained.
06:54I think it has become an issue of national security.
06:59Turkey has supported the support of Pakistan.
07:02So, this has become an issue of national security.
07:05That's why, because of the security, the security that has been kept in place,
07:10the Selvi company has banned the entire country.
07:13And where they started their work, they banned the entire country.
07:17because the security issue is also also the issue of security,
07:20and the other is also the issue that anyone who will help us,
07:26will be our mission.
07:27And that's why I think that the government has been a state government,
07:30everyone has now set up for the security of Turkey.
07:32We don't need any assistance to Turkey.
07:34Airports have already announced termination of Turkey-headquartered
07:39Chalabi's ground handling services.
07:43The company defended itself, saying that its business in India is truly an
07:48quote-unquote Indian enterprise led and managed by Indian professionals
07:51and that they are not a Turkish organization by any standard.
07:56It also said that they have no political affiliations or links to any foreign government or individuals.
08:04After Bureau of Civil Aviation Security pulled the plug,
08:13Chalabi filed a lawsuit against the Indian government in the Delhi High Court,
08:17challenging the sudden revocation.
08:18Chalabi argued that the decision was arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons
08:23and was issued without prior notice, risking thousands of jobs and undermining investor confidence.
08:30According to a Reuters report, Chalabi also said that
08:33vague national security concerns were cited without reasoning.
08:39The Chalabi versus BCAS case in the Delhi High Court
08:42was heard on 19 May 2025 by a single judge bench presided over by Justice Sachin Datta.
08:50Representing Chalabi was senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi,
08:52who said that this is all about quote-unquote public perception due to Turkish shareholding,
08:58not on any concrete evidence or wrongdoing.
09:01He said that Chalabi has operated in India for 17 years and that it is not a quote-unquote rogue company.
09:07Rohtagi contended that the clearance was cancelled without any specific reason
09:12or opportunity for the company to be heard, adding that one cannot trample my business
09:17with a two-line letter without notice.
09:21Speaking for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the enemy can try 10 times and
09:26succeed once, but the country has to succeed all the time.
09:30He said that in cases of civil aviation and national security, there cannot be a doctrine of proportionality.
09:37Mehta also maintained that disclosing detailed reasons would be counterproductive and prejudicial
09:43in national interest, sovereignty and security.
09:46He said that the government had inputs and it was found necessary that it would be hazardous
09:52in this scenario in which a country is to leave this activity in the hands of this company.
09:57He also warned that airport handling and cargo handling are extremely sensitive operations
10:03where personnel know every nuke and cranny of the airport.
10:14The Delhi High Court, while hearing Chalabi's challenge to the revocation of its security
10:19clearance, stated that the rule is better safe than sorry.
10:22Justice Sachin Dutta noted that in sensitive matters like civil aviation,
10:27prior notice could hasten one to do what is apprehended.
10:30The court acknowledged Chalabi's argument that the decision was based on public perception
10:35due to Turkish shareholding and the matter was adjourned for further hearing on 21 May 2025.
10:48After Bureau of Civil Aviation Security banned Chalabi, multiple reports suggested that Turkish
10:54President Erdogan's daughter Sumeya Erdogan holds his stakes in the multinational company.
11:00Denying these reports, the company in a press release said that 65% of Chalabi is owned by international
11:06institutional investors from Canada, US, UK, Singapore, UAE and Western Europe.
11:13Actia Partners 2LP, a Jersey-registered fund, holds a 50% stake in Chalabi. A Dutch-registered entity,
11:21Alpha Airport Services, BV, holds 15% of Chalabi Havajalik Holdings, AS, the parent company,
11:28and the remaining 35% is owned by the Chalabiolo family. Unequivocally refuting the rumours,
11:36the company claimed that there is no one named Sumeya Erdogan owning any shareholding in the parent
11:42organization. The company's ownership is limited to members of the Chalabiolo family,
11:47who have no political affiliation.
11:56Chalabi's future in India is now hanging by a thread. The company will continue to pursue
12:01legal channels, but with national security in play, options are limited. In geopolitics,
12:07today's trend can be tomorrow's fall. India helped Turkey in its hour of need,
12:13but when push came to shove, Ankara backed Islamabad. Now, Chalabi's caught in the crossfire,
12:19grounded not by technical faults, but by the turbulence of international politics
12:25and national security concerns by the Indian government.
12:37M