The Karnataka High Court has directed prosecutors to provide complete details in a case involving allegations that landlords enabled 12 foreign nationals with expired visas to stay unlawfully in Bengaluru, while orally warning property owners to share tenant information with the police.
Justice V. Srishananda made the observations while hearing a petition filed by P. Ashwathanarayana Reddy seeking the quashing of an FIR registered at the Hennur police station. The case concerns allegations that homes were rented to nationals of Congo, Sudan and Cameroon after their visas had expired.
The court reportedly said that landlords should provide the police with relevant information when foreign nationals take houses on rent. It also criticised landlords who allegedly fail to collect documents or inform the police because foreign tenants offer higher rents. These observations were made during the hearing and are not a final finding on the allegations in the case.
The court expressed concern over the alleged involvement of illegal foreign residents in drug trafficking and sale, and linked the issue to the protection of young people from substance abuse. It also criticised the police for allegedly failing to detect the storage and sale of narcotics effectively.
According to the report, the court said that even students in the seventh standard were being affected by drug addiction, leaving parents distressed. The bench described the issue as connected to national interest and security and called for immediate action. The source report did not provide independent data supporting the broader claims made during the hearing.
The proceedings place attention on the responsibilities of landlords, tenants, police stations and immigration authorities in Bengaluru’s rental housing system. While tenant verification and documentation are operational requirements for enforcement agencies, the court’s remarks do not establish that most foreign nationals living unlawfully in India are involved in drug-related activity.
The court has adjourned the matter and directed the prosecution to submit complete information related to the case. Further proceedings will determine how the petition and the FIR are dealt with.
