Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Gujarat High Court Orders CCTV Review After Midnight Police Summons
A father and mother are arguing about where their young child should live and when the father can see him.
The father lives in Australia, while the mother brought the child to India.
Australian courts had given the father visitation and temporary custody orders.
The father told the Gujarat High Court that he had not been able to meet or speak with the child after they arrived in India.
The mother said police came to her home late at night and took her to a police station.
She said she and the child had not been ordered to attend court that day.
The High Court ordered that security-camera recordings from the police station and her home be saved.
The court will consider the matter again on September 25.
The Gujarat High Court ordered preservation of police-station CCTV footage after the mother reported a midnight summons.
The mother said police visited her home late on September 8 and took her to a Navsari police station.
She said she remained there from about midnight until 1 a.m. before agreeing to appear in court with her child.
The father, living in Australia, filed a habeas corpus petition seeking enforcement of Australian visitation and temporary custody orders.
The court also ordered preservation of CCTV footage from the mother’s residence and excused her and the child from personal attendance until further orders.
- Who
- The Gujarat High Court, the child’s mother and father, and police personnel are involved.
- What
- The court ordered preservation of CCTV footage after the mother alleged she was taken to a police station around midnight.
- When
- Police allegedly visited on September 8, with the station visit extending into September 9; the next hearing is September 25.
- Where
- The alleged events occurred at the mother’s residence and a police station in Navsari, Gujarat; the custody case is before the Gujarat High Court.
- Why
- The father is seeking enforcement of Australian visitation and temporary custody orders, while the mother has raised safety and support concerns about returning to Australia.
Mother’s Account
Father’s Position
Police-station attendance
Mother’s Account
The mother said police visited her residence late at night, insisted that she accompany them to sign documents, and kept her at the station until about 1 a.m.
Father’s Position
The father’s position in the reported proceedings concerns enforcement of his custody and visitation rights; the articles do not state his response to the alleged police summons.
Attendance before the High Court
Mother’s Account
The mother said the previous High Court order did not require her or the child to appear on September 9 and raised a grievance about being asked to attend.
Father’s Position
The mother ultimately appeared with the child after assuring police that they would remain present before the High Court.
Custody and contact
Mother’s Account
The mother has said she cannot return to Australia because of concerns about safety, security and lack of support.
Father’s Position
The father, who lives in Australia, says he has been unable to meet or speak with the child in India and seeks enforcement of Australian visitation and temporary custody orders.
- Court
- Gujarat High Court
- Case type
- Habeas corpus petition involving international child custody
- Child
- The child is approximately two years old
- Alleged police visit
- Around 10:30 p.m. on September 8
- Police-station stay
- Approximately midnight to 1 a.m.
- CCTV period ordered preserved
- 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. covering September 8-9
- Next hearing
- September 25