The court records ASG Arvind Kamath's submission that CISF will provide preserved Kempegowda airport footage, citing a misunderstanding over the scope of an earlier order.
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday recorded the submission of Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, will provide Kannada actress Harshavardhini alias Ranya Rao CCTV footage tied to the gold smuggling case against her. Justice Suraj Govindaraj heard the plea.
According to Bar & Bench, Rao's plea alleged non-compliance with the court's July 14 order on preserving and furnishing the footage. Her counsel, Mahesh YL, submitted that she collected footage from the CISF Commandant on July 15, but it covered only 4.30 PM to 7 PM. She had sought footage from 4.30 PM on March 3, 2025, to 6:00 AM on March 4, 2025.
Kamath told the court there appeared to be a misunderstanding among CISF officials over the extent of footage that could be supplied. According to Bar & Bench, officials had apparently understood that footage beyond 6:00 AM could not be supplied because the direction covered only the period up to 6:00 AM. LiveLaw quotes the order as recording the ASG's submission that the recorded video runs from 4.30 pm on March 3, 2025 to 11 am on March 4, 2025, and that a direction was issued to furnish the video only until 6 am, which was not furnished.
Kamath said the original CCTV footage had been erased, but footage preserved under the court's direction remained available and copies could be prepared and furnished. "Whatever we have preserved, we'll hand over," he said. Bar & Bench reports the court initially asked why Rao had not filed a contempt petition.
The footage sought covers Rao's movement after she disembarked from Emirates flight EK-566, through the aerobridge, immigration, duty-free and baggage areas, customs clearance, the alleged search and seizure, mahazar proceedings and her exit. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested her on March 3, 2025 after she was allegedly intercepted with 14.2 kg of gold valued at around US$1.5 million (₹12.56 crore), which she was accused of smuggling from Dubai. She was granted default bail, was detained under COFEPOSA, and was released in April 2026 after one year of preventive detention, Bar & Bench reports.
