Varanasi, August 23, 2025 – Security officials at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport had a busy evening on Saturday when they spotted something unusual during a routine check. A 45-year-old Italian man, Trombeta Alessandro, was about to board a flight when a satellite phone turned up in his bag. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) team quickly stepped in, seizing the device and holding the traveler for questioning.
Alessandro was heading to Bangalore on Indigo flight 6E 6597, set to take off at 6:45 PM. As he went through the security scanner, the CISF personnel noticed the gadget in his carry-on. Satellite phones aren’t something you can just carry around in India, they’re strictly regulated and need special approval from the Department of Telecommunications. Usually, only emergency services or security agencies get the green light to use them because they can bypass regular networks and raise national security concerns.
When asked about it, Alessandro admitted he had the phone but couldn’t give a straight answer on why he brought it or what he planned to do with it. This raised some red flags, and the airport buzz turned into a full alert. The CISF didn’t waste time, they canceled his boarding and kept him in a holding area while they dug deeper.
Airport bosses say this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Foreign visitors sometimes forget, or don’t know, about India’s tough rules on these devices. In the past, folks from places like the US, China, and Germany have been caught in similar spots at various airports. For example, just last December, an American tourist was nabbed with one right here in Varanasi. These incidents often lead to fines, device confiscation, or even jail time if there’s any hint of foul play.
Right now, Alessandro is being handed over to the local police for more grilling. Investigators from intelligence agencies are on the case too, trying to figure out where he got the phone and if there’s anything shady behind it. No charges have been filed yet, but officials are treating it seriously amid growing worries about unauthorized tech slipping through borders.
As of late Saturday, the flight went ahead without him, and the airport returned to normal. But this serves as a reminder for travelers, double-check those bags for restricted items. India takes its security seriously, especially at busy hubs like Varanasi, a key spot for tourists flocking to see the ancient city’s temples and ghats.
Updates are expected as the probe unfolds. For now, Alessandro’s trip has hit a major snag, and he’s likely facing some tough questions in a police station instead of enjoying Bangalore’s vibe.
