| Complaint filed by | |
| Complaint filed on | April 5th, 2026 |
| Complaint filed against | Terminal 2 security check for domestic departures |
- Text of Complaint by Shibani Das
Subject: Formal Complaint: Demand for Regulatory Justification and Refund for Unlawful Confiscation of Personal Property
To
The Chief Security Officer
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
Mumbai, India
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am an Overseas Citizen of India currently based in UK and recently travelled to India after nearly 8 years! What was expected to be a beautiful and memorable trip was marred by an unpleasant and avoidable incident at CSMI Airport leaving a feeling of being cheated and harassed in my own, beloved country, by the very people who are entrusted with the role of helping and protecting the public!
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding the unexplained, unlawful and unjustified confiscation of a Wax Candle gift set from my hand baggage during security screening at Mumbai Airport on 20th February 2026.
The security personnel at the checkpoint claimed that wax candles are “not allowed” in cabin baggage, an assertion that is factually incorrect, unsupported by any published regulation and in direct contradiction to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) guidelines.
Please note that the same item was allowed and present in my hand baggage when I travelled from London Heathrow to Mumbai on 15th February 2026.
After reviewing the publicly available security guidelines issued by both the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Airport Authority, I found no rule, restriction or advisory that prohibits passengers from carrying wax candles in cabin baggage. Candles are widely recognised as permissible items at international airports, including those following ICAO-aligned security standards.
The confiscation therefore appears to have been:
1. Violation of BCAS Regulations
According to the BCAS “Prohibited Items List for Passengers” (latest publicly available version), wax candles are not listed under:
• Prohibited items for cabin baggage
• Dangerous goods
• Flammable solids
• Restricted items requiring airline approval
BCAS rules explicitly prohibit items such as explosives, flammable liquids, corrosives, and pressurised gases — none of which apply to a standard wax candle.
Furthermore, BCAS regulations require that any item confiscated must fall under a clearly defined prohibited category. In this case, no such category exists.
2. Contrary to International Aviation Standards
ICAO-aligned airports (including major hubs in the EU, UK, US, and UAE) explicitly allow wax candles in cabin baggage.
3. Contrary to Industry Precedent
Airports following similar security frameworks (e.g., Heathrow, Dubai, Singapore) list candles as permitted items.
4. Lack of Local Notification
Mumbai Airport’s own website and passenger advisories do not list candles as prohibited.
6. Arbitrary and Unauthorised Confiscation
The confiscation was:
• Arbitrary, as no rule supports the action
• Unlawful, as it contradicts BCAS’s own published standards
• Non-transparent, as no written justification or regulatory reference was provided
• Unjustified, as no safety or security risk was explained
• Financially detrimental, as the item was brand new and of significant value
• Inconsistent with published rules, creating confusion and unnecessary stress
This behaviour undermines passenger trust and raises serious concerns about non-compliance with national aviation security protocols.
Required Remedial Actions
I request the following actions ASAP upon receipt of this letter:
• Regulatory Justification – Provide the exact BCAS clause, circular or amendment citing the specific regulation under which your staff confiscated the Wax Candle giftset
• Full Refund / Reimbursement – Reimburse the full value of the confiscated item, as the action was not supported by any regulation.
• Corrective Action – Confirm what steps will be taken to ensure:
o Staff are trained to follow BCAS guidelines accurately
o Passengers are not subjected to arbitrary confiscations
o Written justification is provided for any seizure of personal property
I expect a timely and substantive response. Should this matter remain unresolved, I reserve my right to escalate it to the appropriate consumer grievance and aviation regulatory bodies, namely:
• BCAS Headquarters
• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA)
• Consumer Grievance Redressal mechanisms
• Airport Ombudsman
I trust that the airport authority will treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants and take immediate steps to address this lapse.
Yours sincerely,
Shibani Das
shibanidas22@yahoo.com
+44 (0) 7762121253
Supporting Evidence:
Boarding pass – Mumbai to Raipur dated 20th February 2026.
