Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Dec 13: As many as nine incidents of theft during the airport screening process have been reported across India this year, with Bengaluru emerging as the worst affected, the Lok Sabha has been informed.

According to official data, four cases were reported at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, the highest among all airports in the country. One incident each was recorded at airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Rajkot during the period from January 1 to November 27, 2025.

The information was disclosed by minister of civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol in a written reply earlier this month to questions raised by Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. Mohol said that whenever such incidents are brought to the authorities’ notice, complaints are lodged with the local police, which then initiate further action.

The minister said the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has mandated complete CCTV coverage across all areas of airport terminal buildings. He added that close co-ordination is being maintained between the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and airline security staff to track any suspicious movement.

Detailing steps taken to prevent theft at airports, Mohol said ground handling staff are frisked while leaving airport premises and airline security personnel have been deployed in baggage make-up and break-up areas (BMA/BBA) around aircraft cargo-hold zones.

He further said CISF help desks have been established for receiving passenger complaints related to theft, while trained personnel have been deployed in CCTV control rooms to maintain close surveillance. Airlines have also been directed to ensure effective supervision of their security staff, including frisking and checking of loaders engaged in loading and unloading baggage between the baggage make-up area and aircraft.

Foot patrolling is being carried out by Aviation Security Group and Airport Security Unit (APSU) personnel in departure and arrival forecourt areas as well as in BMA and BBA zones, the minister added.

Mohol also noted that passengers can lodge complaints and grievances, including those related to mishandling or theft of luggage, through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the Integrated Grievance Redress Mechanism (INGRAM) portal and the government’s Air Sewa mobile application and web portal.