Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance.

The case was mentioned for urgent hearing on Friday and the Court is expected to hear the case on Monday (May 19).

According to a report in the Reuters, Celebi has argued that the Indian government's decision is "arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons".

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi’s clearance on May 15, 2025, invoking national security grounds.

The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions, following Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities involving Operation Sindoor.

Çelebi, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, argued that the government's order lacked any prior notice or opportunity to respond, the Reuters reported.

The company described the justification as “vague” and “unsubstantiated,” asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of over 3,800 Indian employees.

The company also clarified that while it has Turkish ownership, operational and managerial control of its Indian entity is handled by an India-based team, and that it has maintained a clean track record for over a decade at major airports.

Following the revocation, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) terminated its contracts with Çelebi, and in Mumbai, Indothai, a domestic operator, has been brought in to take over the firm’s ground handling services.

Çelebi was represented by Senior Advocate Darpan Wadhwa with Advocate Ritu Bhalla (Partner) at Luthra & Luthra.