The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) told the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday that CCTV footage from Kempegowda International Airport as sought by Kannada actress Ranya-Rao in connection with a gold smuggling case will be furnished to her, clarifying that there was a misunderstanding over extent of footage to be supplied.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Arvind Kamath made the submission before Justice Suraj Govindaraj who was hearing Rao's plea seeking direction to the CISF authorities to provide complete, uninterrupted CCTV footage of her movement at the airport from 4:30 PM on March 3, 2025, to 6:00 AM on March 4, 2025.

“…ASG submits that there has been a misunderstanding between orders in as much as the recorded video is from 4.30 pm on 03.03.2025 to 11 am on 04.03.2025 and a direction has been issued to furnish the video only until 6 am which was not furnished. The ASG has submitted that if the petitioner were to approach the first respondent, the video recording up to 11 am will be furnished….”, the court noted in its order.

The petitioner had earlier approached the Court in a separate plea, wherein the court had on April 2 directed the authorities to provide CCTV footage. Subsequently, on July 14 the Court passed an order permitting the petitioner or her representative to call upon CISF at 11:30 AM on July 15, 2026, to receive a copy of the CCTV footage.

However, the petitioner's counsel submitted today that when the petitioner's representative appeared before the CISF Commandant as directed, the footage provided was limited.

“…A direction was passed by court on July 14. To appear before CISF on July 15 and collect the footage. We appeared before CISF Commandment and the CCTV footage given to us was between between 4.30 pm to 7 pm. On the contrary, what we had requested was CCTV footage from 03.03.2025 4.30 PM till 6 AM on 4^th March”, the counsel added.

At the outset, the court orally said that if the petitioner is alleging non-compliance then she can file a contempt petition. The Court was referring to the petitioner's grievance that the July 14 order had not been complied with and that the entire CCTV footage from 4:30 PM on March 3, 2025, to 6:00 AM on March 4, 2025, had not been provided.

Meanwhile ASG Kamath, appearing for the authorities including CISF, said, “…We had undertaken that CCTV footage had been preserved from 16:30 hrs on March 3 to 6.00 hrs on 4th March. I believe that video, there is one video which runs up to 11 hrs. They have thought that since it's more than what the court ordered it cannot be given. But I have told them that it can be given."

He said that there was a misunderstanding between the orders, as the recorded video extended from 4:30 PM to 11:00 AM on March 4, 2025, and a direction had been issued to furnish the video only until 6:00 AM, which is why the additional footage was not furnished initially.

He thereafter submitted, "Whatever we have preserved, we will hand it over. The original is already erased from the server but we have preserved it. We can make copies anytime and give….” He further submitted that if the petitioner were to approach the first respondent, the video recording up to 11:00 AM would be furnished.

Case Title: Harshavardhini Ranya Rao v. CISF Commandment & Ors.

Case No: WP 18777/2026