An American citizen and his companion were arrested at the Srinagar International Airport on Sunday after a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage during a routine check.
The individuals were questioned by airport security and were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation. Police later confirmed that one individual, a US citizen, had been arrested and the satellite phone was found in his bag.
The use of satellite phones is prohibited in India without prior approval from the government. Devices such as Thuraya and Iridium phones are strictly regulated, and unauthorized possession can lead to detention, arrest and confiscation under the Indian Telegraph Act and other security rules.
According to official guidelines, travelers must obtain written permission from the Department of Communications before carrying or using satellite communication devices in the country.
India imposes strict restrictions on communications due to security concerns, and both foreign nationals and Indian nationals have faced action in the past for carrying satellite communications devices.
Previous cases
Last May, a US-based ophthalmologist was stopped at Puducherry airport after she was found in possession of an Iridium satellite phone. She was denied boarding a flight to Hyderabad, and a police investigation was launched.
Authorities also reported previous arrests of foreign nationals, including a Chinese national and a British executive, for carrying unauthorized satellite devices into airports and hotels across the country.
To curb such violations, the DGCA on January 30, 2025, directed airlines operating flights to India to inform passengers of the ban through in-flight announcements, external offices and on-board leaflets.
