Kerala model and ‘Mrs Kerala’ runner-up Harsha Sunny has been arrested for drugs smuggling. He was caught at Mumbai airport with 11.824 kg of hydroponic ganja, worth ₹11.8 crore. She had brought this consignment from Bangkok.
People have not yet forgotten the case of Swapna Suresh, the main accused in Kerala’s high-profile gold smuggling case. Now another shocking news has come out from Kerala itself. Model Harsha Sunny, who was the runner-up of ‘Mrs. Kerala’ contest and won the title of ‘Kerala’s inspiring woman’, has been arrested on charges of drug smuggling.
The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has busted a major international drugs racket. The Customs Department has arrested Kerala model Harsha Sunny with 11.824 kg of hydroponic ganja. The price of these drugs in the international market has been estimated at Rs 118.24 million (about Rs 11.8 crore). The Customs Department presented the accused model in the court, from where she has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Who is the arrested model Harsha Sunny?
Harsha Sunny is originally from Wayanad district of Kerala. She is a model, social media influencer and dancer. She was the first runner-up in the “Mrs. Kerala Global 2025” beauty contest held in Kochi. Not only this, she also got the title of “Mrs. Kerala Inspiring”.
According to customs officials, Harsha Sunny was marked as a suspicious passenger based on Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) profiling. She reached Mumbai on June 11, 2026, at around 4 am on Thai Airways flight (TG-351) from Bangkok. He was searched under the NDPS Act, but nothing was found. After this his luggage was examined. Twelve vacuum-sealed plastic packets were concealed in a beige colored trolley bag of “Swiss Star” brand. When opened, there was a strong smell. Upon examination with the NDPS kit, it was revealed that it was hydroponic ganja, whose total weight was 11.824 kg.
Lawyer’s argument- ‘He didn’t even know’
Advocate Prabhakar Tiwari, appearing for Harsha Sunny, claimed that the model did not know that there were drugs in the bag. According to the lawyer, Harsha had gone to Bangkok to study nail art, where she met an Indian citizen. The man asked Harsha to deliver some “gifts and chocolates” to his family in Mumbai. Harsha could not open the packet as the flight time was nearing. He was told that the man’s wife or child would meet him outside the Mumbai airport and collect the packet.
Further investigation and action
The Custom Department became suspicious of Harsha’s statement. The department registered a case under sections 8(C), 20(B), 23(B), 28, 29, 30, 35 and 54 of the NDPS Act, 1985 and arrested him. The investigating agencies are now trying to find out who was the person who delivered the drug packets in Bangkok and to whom the consignment was to be delivered in India. The search for other people involved in this international drugs syndicate is also going on.