MUMBAI: An Australian geologist was arrested from the domestic terminal of the Chhatraprati Shivaji International Airport at Santa Cruz (E) for carrying a satellite phone on Saturday. McDonald Andrew (54), also vice-president of a Malaysian firm, was subsequently released on bail.

Andrew arrived in Mumbai from Malaysia on July 11 with his family. They were to spend a month in Goa—his wife’s hometown—and were to fly to Goa at 3.20pm on Saturday. The phone was found on Andrew around 1.45pm, when he was going through security check. India does not permit the use of sat phones.

During questioning, Andrew told the police that he uses a personal satellite phone for better network on field as he is a geologist. He added that regular cellphones usually face connectivity issues and that he had no other intention to carry the sat phone. Officers said foreign nationals are often not aware of regulations in India concerning sat phones.

