Velana International Airport security breach leads to arrest of Indian national

An Indian national, 45-year-old Sanjeeva Reddy Yelma, has been arrested following an attempted security breach at Velana International Airport (VIA) in the Maldives. Yelma was intercepted by Aviation and Port Security Command officers at Gate 51 after attempting to enter a restricted zone using an unauthorized access card.

Investigations revealed that the access card belonged to another foreign worker whose work visa had already been canceled. While Yelma holds a valid work permit in the Maldives, he did not have clearance for the specific area he attempted to enter. During his court appearance, Yelma claimed he was acting on instructions from his employer, who allegedly provided him with the card.

The Criminal Court has remanded Yelma in custody for 15 days. The court cited sufficient evidence of an attempted unauthorized entry into a high-security zone and noted that his release could pose a risk to public safety. Police are continuing to investigate the incident to determine how the canceled access card was distributed and if other individuals were involved.