Television actor Kanchi Singh has taken legal action against IndiGo airlines following a distressing incident where her cabin baggage was lost, and the carrier offered a mere ₹3,000 as compensation for belongings valued at approximately ₹80,000. The episode, which has sparked a debate on airline accountability, began on a Delhi-Mumbai flight last September.
The Incident: A Baggage Request at the Gate
The trouble started on September 28, 2025, just as Kanchi Singh, known for her roles in popular TV shows like Sasural Simar Ka and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, was about to board her flight in Delhi. Due to limited overhead bin space, the airline staff requested that she check in her cabin bag at the boarding gate itself. She complied with the instruction.
However, upon landing at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), her bag failed to appear on the carousel. "When I landed in Mumbai, my bag never arrived. From that moment, there was confusion and no clear answers," the actor recounted, describing the beginning of an ordeal that would stretch for weeks.
Weeks of Confusion and a Meagre Compensation Offer
For nearly two weeks after the incident, Kanchi states she received no concrete response from the airline regarding the whereabouts of her luggage. The bag contained valuable professional makeup products and critical personal items, including official documents like her PAN card and driving license.
When the airline finally made contact, their proposed resolution left her shocked and upset. "They offered ₹3,000 as compensation. It was upsetting because I had lost items worth around ₹80,000 and that’s when I decided to lodge a police complaint," she explained. This significant disparity between the loss and the compensation offered prompted her to file a formal First Information Report (FIR).
The FIR was registered in November last year at the Sahar Police Station in Mumbai, detailing the loss of expensive belongings.
Airline's Response and a Larger Purpose
When approached for comment, an IndiGo spokesperson stated, "We are aware of the matter pertaining to one of our customers losing baggage after landing at CSMI Airport, Mumbai, on September 28, 2025. We helped the customer to the best of our ability. However, we regret that it could not be recovered. We extended all possible support to the customer and fully cooperated with the relevant authorities in the investigation." The airline also revealed that the baggage was mistakenly picked up by another customer.
While Kanchi admits she holds little hope of recovering her bag and its contents, she emphasizes that her reason for going public extends beyond her personal loss. She expresses faith in the police investigation but aims to raise awareness. "Even if I don’t recover my belongings, I want to alert people to be cautious about their expensive items. Also, there has to be accountability when passengers are asked to hand over their bags," she concluded, highlighting a systemic issue faced by many air travelers.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges passengers can face with airline baggage handling and the often contentious process of claiming fair compensation for lost or damaged goods.
