New Delhi, August 12, 2026

An unusual security incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has raised questions over the movement of suspected wildlife remains through air travel. On Monday, CISF personnel detected a suspicious object in the handbag of a passenger who was preparing to board a flight from Delhi to Hyderabad, leading to a detailed security inspection.

During the pre-embarkation screening, CISF personnel noticed the suspicious item and carried out a thorough check of the passenger’s hand baggage. A skull, which had been concealed inside the bag, was subsequently recovered. When questioned, the passenger informed the CISF that the skull belonged to a monkey.

The passenger was later handed over to the local police, while the recovered skull was secured for examination. Officials said that as the matter concerns wildlife, proceedings will be initiated under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Authorities are now investigating where the passenger obtained the skull and why it was being transported from Delhi to Hyderabad. The examination of the recovered remains, along with the ongoing inquiry, is expected to establish the nature and origin of the skull and determine the further course of action.