The security personnel did not allow them to board the flight and later handed them over to local police, Khajuraho Police Station in-charge M K Khamparia said.
The tourists were identified as Nehar (Algeria) and his friend Zahia (France), police said.
They were going to Varanasi by an Indian Airlines flight after arriving in the temple town from Delhi.
The duo failed to explain the origin of the cartridge.
