Gurugram Surgeon Claims Apple Watch Nearly Stolen After Security Check At Delhi Airport, CISF Refutes Allegation

The man claimed his Apple watch was allegedly stolen by a man after he had placed it in the security tray at IGI Airport's T3. The CISF issued a statement refuting the allegation.

A Gurugram-based surgeon claimed his Apple watch was nearly stolen at the IGI Airport in Delhi on Saturday, January 25. The CISF refuted the allegation.

Source : Freepik

A Gurugram-based orthopaedic surgean shared his ordeal on social media about an alleged theft attempt at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. According to Tushar Mehta, his Apple watch was allegedly stolen by a man after he had placed it in the security tray. He also alleged the involvement of another man, who worked at a store at the Delhi Airport. Hours later, the CISF issued a statement refuting the allegation.

After his post went viral, the Delhi Airport assured him of a "thorough investigation", assuring him that the safety and security of the passengers is paramount. 

Replying to Tushar Mehta, Delhi Airport wrote on X: "Dear Dr Tushar, we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. The theft of your Apple Watch and subsequent events are being taken seriously. We assure you that we will take this matter up strongly with all relevant parties, including CISF and the concessionaire."

"Please be assured that the safety and security of our passengers are our top priority. We will investigate thoroughly and take necessary actions to prevent such incidents in the future," it added.

Dear Dr Tushar,
We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused. The theft of your Apple Watch and the subsequent events are being taken very seriously.
We assure you that we will take this matter up strongly with all relevant parties, including CISF and the concessionaire.(1/2)

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 25, 2025

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards the Airport, later dismissed the allegations citing the CCTV footage of the incident.

"Dear Pax, The review of the CCTV has contradicted the sequence of events as narrated above. After security check, you were seen wearing your watch and heading for boarding gate without interaction with any CISF personnel. The boarding was completed smoothly and hassle-free. Posting of such unsubstantiated messages creates unnecessary apprehension in the minds of passengers, hence avoidable," the force stated.

Posting of such unsubstantiated messages creates unnecessary apprehension in the minds of passengers, hence avoidable. (2/2)

— APS - CISF (@CISFAirport) January 26, 2025

The original post alleging the incident has now been deleted by Tushar Mehta.

What The Surgeon Claimed

According to Tushar Mehta, his Apple watch was almost stolen at Delhi Airport Terminal 3 at the security check on Saturday. He recalled that he had put his watch in the tray for security check and the moment he crossed the security and started putting things back into his laptop bag, he felt something was missing.

He then realised it was his watch, and approached a CISF personnel, who asked him to check his bag and pockets again. Mehta then spotted a man looking back at him and walking away. As he followed him, he found the man at a watch store and confronted him, before forcibly putting his hand in his trouser pocket to take his watch out.

"I confronted him & forcibly put my hand over his trouser pocket and I could feel the watch. The sales guy standing at Helios came over towards me & behaved weirdly as it had nothing to do with him. Forcefully I took out my watch (I am glad I could and I did). The guy who took my watch & the Helios guy tried to confront me which made me realise that they knew each other from before," Mehta said in his post. 

After the store worker began cofronting Mehta, the other man who allegedly took his watch escaped from the spot. "After a minor heated argument I could figure out their names & came out the shop since I was getting late for the flight," he said.

Later, another CISF official came up to Mehta along with the store worker, asking him to apologise to him for his rude behaviour. It was only when the doctor called up a ‘senior official,’ his long-time patient, that he was allowed to leave.

Mehta concluded his post advising those reading it to take care of their belongings at the security "once you clear it".