A harrowing travel experience shared by Shruti Chaturvedi, an Indian entrepreneur and founder of Indian Action Project and Chaaipani, has gone viral on social media, raising serious concerns about the treatment of Indian travellers abroad.
In a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi recounted being detained for over eight hours at Anchorage Airport in the United States, allegedly for carrying a power bank in her handbag that was deemed “suspicious” by airport authorities.
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Check the post:
Imagine being detained by Police and FBI for 8 hours, being questioned the most ridiculous things, physically checked by a male officer on camera, stripped off warm wear, mobile phone, wallet, kept in chilled room, not allowed to use a restroom, or make a single phone call, made…
— Shruti Chaturvedi (@adhicutting) April 8, 2025
“Detained, stripped, and interrogated for 8 hours”
“Imagine being detained by Police and FBI for 8 hours, being questioned the most ridiculous things, physically checked by a male officer on camera, stripped off warm wear, mobile phone, wallet, kept in chilled room, not allowed to use a restroom, or make a single phone call, made to miss your flight – all because the airport security found your powerbank in handbag ‘suspicious’,” Chaturvedi said.
She described being taken to a cold room, stripped of her winter gear, and physically checked by a male officer, without access to her phone, wallet, or the ability to call anyone in India. The entrepreneur also said she was denied the use of a restroom, and the authorities did not permit her to notify anyone about her missed flight, “I don’t have to imagine, already past the worst 7 hours. And we all know why,” she added, without elaborating further on what she implied was racial or ethnic profiling.
“Posted only after I was out of the USA”
Chaturvedi said she chose to speak out only after leaving the United States, fearing possible repercussions while still in the country.
Hi! I am alright and posted this only after I was out of USA. They let me and my friend go after 8 hours of nonsense and not finding anything. they still kept the whole luggage bag and gave a frivolous duffle to keep luggage. Anyway – the point is – out of India Indians are…
— Shruti Chaturvedi (@adhicutting) April 8, 2025
“Hi! I am alright and posted this only after I was out of the USA. They let me and my friend go after 8 hours of nonsense and not finding anything. They still kept the whole luggage bag and gave a frivolous duffle to keep the luggage. Anyway – the point is – outside of India, Indians are pretty powerless. Especially when you aren’t even allowed to make a phone call to anyone in India.”
She concluded her post with a sobering message, “The point is – outside of India, Indians are pretty powerless. Especially when you aren’t even allowed to make a phone call to anyone in India.”
Outrage and concern on social media
Chaturvedi’s story has sparked widespread outrage online, with users questioning the conduct of US authorities and highlighting the vulnerability of Indian travellers abroad, particularly women.
Many urged Indian authorities to look into the matter and provide support for citizens who face such alleged harassment during international travel.
