India Cracks Down on Turkish Firms: Adani Deal Cancelled, Another Firm’s Clearance Revoked
New Delhi: In response to Turkey’s open support for Pakistan, India has adopted a stringent stance against Turkish companies. Adani Airport Holdings has terminated its agreement with a Turkish firm, while the Indian government has revoked security clearances granted to another Turkish enterprise. These developments are reported to be a consequence of Turkey’s declared support for Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks and India’s retaliatory “Operation Sindoor”.
On Thursday, Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) announced the immediate termination of its agreement with the Turkish company DragonPass, which provided lounge services at airports. A spokesperson for AAHL stated, “Our agreement with DragonPass has been terminated with immediate effect. DragonPass customers will no longer have access to lounges at airports managed by Adani. However, this change will not impact the lounge experience for other passengers.”
In a separate move, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has cancelled security clearances previously granted to the Turkish ground handling company Celebi Airport Services. The Ministry, citing national security considerations, stated, “Based on the powers vested in the Director General of BCAS, we are immediately revoking the security clearances granted to Celebi Airport Services India Private Limited.” Celebi currently manages approximately 70 percent of ground operations at Mumbai Airport, including passenger services, load control, aircraft operations, cargo handling, postal services, warehouse operations, and bridge management.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation, Muralidhar Mohol, addressed the issue on social media platform ‘X’, stating, “There have been widespread calls across the country to ban the Turkish company Celebi Nas Airport Services India Limited, which provides ground handling services at Indian airports. Recognising the seriousness of the issue and the need to protect national interests, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has considered these appeals and revoked the security clearances of the said company. National security and interests are our top priority.”
According to some reports, Sümeyye Erdoğan, daughter of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, holds partial stakes in Celebi. Her husband, Selçuk Bayraktar, is the manufacturer of Bayraktar military drones that Pakistan has reportedly used against India. Analysts believe that Turkey’s support for Pakistan is not limited to government policy but also reflects the direct involvement of Erdoğan’s family. Celebi entered the Indian aviation sector in 2008 and rapidly expanded its operations.