The worker, identified as one Shankar Paswan, had picked up a packet containing the US currency on December 28 when one Mohammed Istakhar, a businessman from Muzaffarnagar, was having snacks at a food joint before boarding his flight to China.
Istakhar realised that his packet was missing when he landed in China and upon his return yesterday to Delhi he contacted Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials at the IGIA and asked them for help in the matter.
"Immediately, CISF surveillance team was put into action to find out the facts. After viewing the CCTV footage thoroughly it came to light that Paswan, engaged by DIAL for cleaning of terminal, was found to have removed the envelope containing 2500 USD clandestinely.
"He was called for further enquiry by CISF. Initially he denied but after thorough interrogation he accepted that he had stolen the envelope containing 2500 USD from the food court area," CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh said in a statement.
He was later handed over to airport police, he said.
CISF guards all the terminals of the Delhi airport.