Gold smuggling case twist: No bail to Ranya Rao for 1 year under COFEPOSA; Kannada actor to stay in jail
NEW DELHI: Kannada actress
Ranya Rao
has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment in connection with a gold smuggling case, as per an order issued by the Advisory Board under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
The board has denied the right to apply for bail for the entire duration of the sentence, as per media reports.
Bengaluru court had earlier granted default bail to Ranya and co-accused Tarun Raju on procedural grounds, after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated time.
Despite the bail, Ranya remained in custody due to ongoing proceedings under COFEPOSA, which allows preventive detention of up to one year based solely on suspicion in cases related to foreign exchange and smuggling violations.
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Ranya, also known as Harshavardhani Ranya, was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport with 14.8 kg of gold smuggled from Dubai. The seized gold was valued at Rs 12.56 crore.
Court documents show that earlier bail applications filed by Ranya were rejected multiple times, by the Special Court for Economic Offences on March 14, by the Sessions Court on March 27, and by the Karnataka High Court on April 26.
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The government issued a COFEPOSA detention order on April 22. During the investigation, authorities revealed that Ranya had travelled alone to Dubai 34 times between 2023 and 2025. Subsequent raids at her residence led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
Ranya has been charged under Sections 135 and 104 of the Customs Act, and proceedings under Section 108 are also underway.
Her counsel has accused the DRI of manipulating documents and argued that the offences are compoundable.
Co-accused Tarun Raju, a US citizen, was also denied bail in April. The court had granted default bail to both Ranya and Tarun on the condition of furnishing two sureties each and a bond of Rs 2 lakh. They were barred from leaving the country and warned not to repeat any such offence.
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