Dismissed¶31

Arul Shyam Sundar v. the Inspector Police

Madras HC2 Jun 2026WP/15379/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Art. 226 mandamus; CCTV footage preservation Chennai International Airport 31.03.2025-01.04.2025; Jazeera Airways flight J9-427 arrival; immigration, customs Green/Red Channel, AIU rooms, x-ray and baggage screening coverage; CCTV retention limited to thirty days with automatic deletion; petitioner detained in smuggling case, electronic goods seized; representations for production of CCTV footage not considered; BCAS Director General impleaded 06.11.2025 (WPMP.Crl.No.616 of 2025); writ petition dismissed, no costs; single-judge bench G.K. Ilanthiraiyan J.

What did the court decide?

CCTV footage can be preserved for only thirty days, after which it is automatically deleted. ¶27

Arul Shyam Sundar Vs the Inspector Police — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

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Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should issue directing respondents Nos. 1 and 2 to collect and preserve CCTV footages of Chennai International Airport for 31.03.2025 and 01.04.2025, covering the petitioner's exit from Jazeera Airways flight J9-427, immigration clearance, customs Green/Red Channels, AIU rooms and x-ray/baggage screening areas.

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Court's answer

CCTV footage can be preserved for only thirty days, after which it is automatically deleted.

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Ratio / Principle

The petitioner was detained in a smuggling case and electronic goods were seized from his possession.

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Key takeaways

Therefore, the representations submitted by the petitioner seeking the production of CCTV footage cannot be considered.ratio¶27

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court, WP No. 15379 of 2025, decided 02-06-2026 by G.K. Ilanthiraiyan J. Writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking a writ of mandamus directing respondents Nos. 1 and 2 (Inspector of Police, S2 Airport Police Station, Meenambakkam, and Airport Director, Chennai International Airport, AAI) to collect and preserve CCTV footages of Chennai International Airport for 31.03.2025 and 01.04.2025, particularly covering the petitioner's exit from Jazeera Airways flight J9-427, immigration clearance, customs Green Channel/exit area, Red Channel, AIU rooms, x-ray room and baggage screening. The fourth respondent (Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) was impleaded by this court's order dated 06.11.2025 in WPMP.Crl.No.616 of 2025. On perusal of records and submissions, the court observed that CCTV footage can be preserved for only thirty days, after which it is automatically deleted, and that the petitioner had been detained in a smuggling case with electronic goods seized from his possession; consequently, the petitioner's representations seeking production of the CCTV footage could not be considered. The writ petition was dismissed without costs.

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WP No. 15379 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 02-06-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE G.K. ILANTHIRAIYAN

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WP No. 15379 of 2025

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Arul Shyam Sundar S/o, Hendry Rajasekar, 49/61, West Arockiya Madha Street, Nagal Nagar Post, Dindigul-624003.

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..Petitioner(s)

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The Inspector Police S2 Airport Police Station, Meenambakkam, Chennai.

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The Airport Director Chennai International Airport, Airport Authority Of India, Chennai International Airport, Chennai-600 027.

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The Deputy Inspector General Central Industrial Security Force(airport South Zone), Meenambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 016.

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The Director General Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Chennai International Airport, Chennai-600027.

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(R4 is impleaded as per the order of this court dated 06.11.2025 in WPMP.Crl.No.616 of 2025 in WP.No.15379 of 2025)

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..Respondent(s)

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PRAYER: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India ,

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to issue a Writ of Mandamus d irecting the respondents No.1 and 2 to collect the

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preserve all the CCTV footages of the Chennai International Airport for the

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Page1 of 4

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP No. 15379 of 2025

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dates 31.03.2025 (0000 hrs) and 01.04.2025 (0100 hours). More particularly from the petitioners exit of Jazeera Air ways flight Nos.J9-427 landing on early hours of 31.03.2025 and his final exit from International terminal Arrival Hall. Inclusive of CCTV Cameras covering his immigration clearance, customs Green Channel/ exit area, Red Channel, entry and exit of AIU rooms, area of x

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rays room, baggage screening and casseroles pertaining to J9-427 of that particular day

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For Petitioner(s): Mr. S.P.Yuaraj For Respondent(s): Mr.R.Ganesh Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

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ORDER

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This Writ Petition has been filed for seeking direction to the 1^st & 2^nd respondent to collect the preserved CCTV footages of the Chennai International Airport for the dates 31.03.2025 and 01.04.2025.

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On perusal of the records and also the submissions made by both sides reveals that CCTV footage can be preserved for only thirty days, after which it is automatically deleted. In fact, the petitioner was detained in a smuggling case, and electronic goods were seized from his possession. Therefore, the representations submitted by the petitioner seeking the production of CCTV footage cannot be considered.

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Page2 of 4

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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WP No. 15379 of 2025

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