Turkish Firm Celebi Aviation Moves Delhi High Court Day After Govt Revokes Security Clearance Over Nation Security Issue

New Delhi: Turkish firm Celebi Aviation, whose security clearance was revoked by the government due to national security concerns amid India-Pakistan tensions, has moved the Delhi High Court challenging the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) decision.

In its petition, Celebi Aviation stated that the government revoked its security clearance without prior warning. The firm expressed concern over the future of its 4,000 employees and the loss of investor confidence.

Celebi Aviation was responsible for handling ground and cargo operations at several key airports across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Ahmedabad, Cochin, and Kannur.

However, the Aviation Security Department revoked the Turkish firm's security clearance, leading to the immediate suspension of all its services.

Action against the firm was reportedly taken following confirmed reports that Turkey had assisted Pakistan by providing surveillance and armed drones, which were used against India during the recent conflict triggered by the Pahalgam terror attack.

Celebi Aviation in its court filing termed India’s action as “Mere rhetoric of national security without elaborating upon in what manner is an entity a threat to national security is unsustainable in law.”

Celebi further mentioned that though its shareholders were registered in Turkey but its control was held by companies who don’t have Turkish incorporation or origin.

Soon after government's action against Celebi Aviation, Delhi, Mumbai among other airports suspended ties with the Turkish firm and handed services of ground operations and cargo to other ventures.

Why India took action against Turkish firm Celebi Aviation?

The action against Turkish firm Celebi Aviation comes amid nationwide anti-Turkey sentiment and calls for a boycott of businesses linked to the country. This follows confirmed reports that President Erdogan’s government assisted Pakistan by providing surveillance and armed drones, which the Pakistani army used against India with the intent to target civilians and military establishments.

This development coincides with heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, where Pakistani terrorists shot dead 26 innocent civilians vacationing in Kashmir on April 22. Terrorists deliberately singled out Hindu individuals and shot them dead in front of their families.

In response to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking several terror hideouts and launchpads deep inside Pakistani territory and in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation resulted in the elimination of over 100 terrorists and the destruction of key terror infrastructure.

Rather than acting against these terrorists, Pakistan escalated tensions by launching swarm drone and missile attacks, attempting to target both military and civilian establishments. However, these efforts failed as India's robust and advanced air defence systems successfully neutralised them. During this escalation, Pakistan reportedly deployed Turkish surveillance and armed drones to target multiple border districts along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC).

Ignoring India’s advice to de-escalate tensions, Pakistan faced severe retaliation when India executed another precision strike, targeting its air bases across multiple locations inside its territory including Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi.

After being hit hard by India, Pakistan went running crying before the global powers, urging them to intervene and requesting India to halt its offensive.