Mumbai: Security concerns at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport have come under renewed scrutiny after police said 26 baggage theft cases registered between January 2025 and September 2026 remain unsolved. Investigators have now sought additional CCTV coverage in areas they describe as potential surveillance “blind spots” between baggage conveyor systems and aircraft loading points.
The issue has raised questions about baggage security at one of India’s busiest airports, particularly in areas where luggage moves from screening and conveyor belts towards aircraft.
Police Seek CCTV Coverage in Suspected Blind Spots
Sahar police have asked Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to install additional CCTV cameras in areas where they believe surveillance coverage may be inadequate.
According to investigators, these locations include stretches between baggage conveyor belts and aircraft loading points, where checked-in luggage could potentially be tampered with before being loaded onto an aircraft.
Police believe the lack of direct surveillance in such areas has made it difficult to establish what happens to baggage after it leaves the passenger-facing sections of the airport.
The request for additional cameras is aimed at creating a complete visual trail of baggage movement and helping investigators identify those responsible when valuables go missing.
26 FIRs Filed, But No Case Solved
Police records cited in the report show that Sahar police registered 21 FIRs, while airport police registered five FIRs, taking the total number of cases to 26 between January 2025 and September 2026.
However, none of these cases has been solved so far, and police have not recovered the stolen property.
The reported losses are significant.
Police said the cases involved approximately ₹38.5 lakh in cash, along with gold and diamond jewellery worth around ₹67 lakh.
The figures underline why investigators are seeking stronger surveillance and tighter monitoring of baggage-handling operations.
Police Receive Around 20 Complaints Every Month
The number of complaints may be considerably higher than the number of FIRs.
According to police, they receive around 20 baggage theft complaints every month. However, many complaints do not progress into formal FIRs because passengers, particularly those working or living abroad, are unable to return to Mumbai to pursue their complaints.
This creates another challenge for investigators, as the initial complaint may not always be followed by a detailed statement or further cooperation from the passenger.
As a result, the official number of FIRs may not represent the full extent of baggage-theft complaints being reported at the airport.
Investigation Becomes Difficult Due to Ground Staff Access
Police officials have also pointed to difficulties in questioning airline employees and ground-handling personnel during investigations.
According to investigators, outsourced loaders and other ground staff work across different stages of baggage movement, making it difficult to establish individual responsibility when luggage is reported missing.
Police suspect that valuables could potentially be identified during baggage screening and that information about valuable bags may then be passed to people involved in baggage handling. These are investigative suspicions and have not been established as fact.
The lack of continuous CCTV footage in certain baggage-handling stretches can make it harder to verify such allegations.
Police Had Raised the Issue Earlier
The latest request for CCTV coverage is not the first time authorities have raised concerns.
A senior police officer said that between December 2025 and February 2026, letters were sent to the Airports Authority of India, the Adani Group and other airport agencies, seeking mandatory CCTV coverage in areas considered vulnerable and requesting early action.
Police now want surveillance strengthened so that baggage can be tracked more effectively from the point of screening until it reaches the aircraft.
MIAL Disputes Police Claim
The airport operator, however, has disputed the police’s version.
MIAL said it had not received the letter referred to by police and also denied that there are CCTV “blind spots” at the airport.
The operator said that all areas of the airport are under 24×7 surveillance and maintained that baggage theft is the responsibility of the respective airlines.
The contrasting positions have added another layer to the issue, with police pointing to surveillance gaps while the airport operator maintains that its premises are continuously monitored.
Recent Cases Have Added to the Concern
The issue has gained further attention after several recent passengers reported valuables missing from their baggage.
In one recent case, two students travelling from Mumbai to Russia for MBBS studies reported a combined loss of around ₹6.5 lakh in foreign currency. Police registered FIRs and sought CCTV footage as well as details of airline ground staff involved in handling the baggage.
Another recent case involved two women travelling from Mumbai to Dubai who reported $25,000, worth more than ₹23 lakh, missing from checked-in baggage. That case was described as the biggest of 16 baggage-theft cases registered at Sahar police station between January and August 2026.
These cases have increased pressure on authorities to examine the entire baggage-handling chain.
Former IPS Officer Calls for Stronger Investigation
Former Mumbai police commissioner D Sivanandhan has suggested that investigators should develop an informer network inside the airport instead of depending entirely on CCTV footage.
Former IPS officer and lawyer Y P Singh has also described the failure to solve the cases despite the availability of electronic evidence as a serious security concern. Singh alleged that there could be a possible nexus between baggage-screening personnel and loaders, although this remains an allegation and has not been established by investigators.
CCTV Coverage Under Fresh Scrutiny
The controversy highlights the importance of continuous surveillance in baggage-handling areas, where passengers have little direct visibility once their luggage is handed over to airport and airline systems.
With 26 registered cases still unresolved and substantial amounts of cash and jewellery reportedly missing, police are now pushing for stronger CCTV coverage and greater scrutiny of baggage-handling personnel.
Whether additional cameras are installed and whether they help investigators finally crack the pending cases will be closely watched.
For passengers, the episode is also a reminder that valuable items should not be placed in checked-in baggage whenever airline and security rules provide safer alternatives.
