Latest news with #COFEPOSA
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Kannada Actor's Mother Challenges Prolonged Detention In Karnataka High Court Despite Bail Grant
The mother of Kannada actor Ranya Rao has approached the Karnataka High Court with a habeas corpus petition, seeking judicial intervention to secure her daughter's release from prolonged custody. The legal challenge centers on the actor's continued detention despite receiving bail approval in a high-profile gold smuggling case. Ranya Rao secured bail from the Special Court for Economic Offences on May 20, yet remains incarcerated due to overlapping charges under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). This legal complexity has created a situation where despite judicial relief in one case, the actor continues to face detention under preventive custody provisions. The case originated from Rao's arrest at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, where customs officials allegedly discovered a sophisticated gold concealment operation. Investigators reportedly found 14.8 kilograms of gold bars strategically hidden around her waist and calves using medical bandages and tissues, with additional quantities concealed in her footwear and clothing pockets. The seized contraband, comprising 24-carat gold valued at over Rs 12.56 crore, was allegedly smuggled from Dubai. The substantial quantity and sophisticated concealment methods led to charges under both the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, creating multiple legal proceedings that have complicated her release. During recent court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath indicated that formal objections had been filed regarding the habeas corpus petition. The Karnataka High Court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18, providing both parties time to prepare their arguments on the detention's legality. The Special Court for Economic Offences had granted bail to both Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju under specific conditions, including surrender of passports, prohibition from leaving the country, and execution of Rs 2 lakh bonds with two sureties each. Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar's bail order came after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence failed to file charges within the mandatory timeframe. However, the COFEPOSA legislation provides authorities with extensive powers to maintain preventive detention for individuals suspected of activities threatening foreign exchange conservation or engaging in smuggling operations. This legal framework allows continued custody even when bail has been granted in related cases, creating the current legal impasse. The case highlights the complex intersection of multiple legal frameworks governing economic offences in India, where overlapping jurisdictions can result in prolonged detention despite judicial relief in specific charges. The High Court's decision will likely provide crucial clarity on the balance between preventive detention powers and individual liberty rights in cases involving serious economic crimes.
New Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Gold smuggling case: ED raids continue at premises linked to Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara
BENGALURU: The ED on Thursday continued its searches at places linked to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara as part of the probe into alleged gold smuggling-linked money laundering case against Kannada actress Ranya Rao and others, official sources said. According to sources, searches continued in Siddhartha Engineering College, Siddhartha Medical College and Siddhartha College in the state. The ED sleuths on Wednesday raided 16 locations in the state under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) targeting hawala operators and accommodation entry operators who allegedly made "fake" financial transactions into Rao's accounts. The Enforcement Directorate filed a PMLA case a few months ago after taking cognisance of a CBI and DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence) complaint into a larger gold smuggling racket in India, including the case of Rao. ED sources claimed that 'an educational trust' is suspected to have 'diverted' funds and made a payment of Rs 40 lakh towards the credit card bill of Rao, allegedly on the instructions of an influential individual. Rao was arrested on March 3 at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after arriving from Dubai. Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials detained her and seized gold bars weighing 14.2 kg and valued at over Rs 12.56 crore. Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju were granted bail on Tuesday by a special court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru in connection with the gold smuggling case. The court approved their default bail applications after the DRI failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated period. Rao, however, will continue to remain behind bars. Authorities have filed a separate case against her under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), a preventive detention law designed to tackle smuggling and preserve foreign exchange reserves. Under COFEPOSA, individuals can be held without trial for up to a year based on suspicion of involvement in such activities.
India Gazette
20-05-2025
- India Gazette
Kannada actor Ranya Rao gets conditional bail in gold smuggling case
ANI 20 May 2025, 18:52 GMT+10 Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 20 (ANI): Kannada actor Ranya Rao on Tuesday was granted conditional bail by the Economic Offences Court in an alleged connection with a gold smuggling case. Despite the bail, she will remain in jail under the COFEPOSA (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) case. Tarun Kondaraju, a co-accused in the gold smuggling case, was also granted conditional bail. The court approved their release on the condition that each submits two sureties and a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh. The court also barred both from leaving the country and ordered them not to commit similar offences. Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after DRI officials found her carrying gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS). According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at Rs. 18.92 crore. (ANI)
Mint
20-05-2025
- Mint
Kannada actress Ranya Rao gets bail in gold smuggling case, but to remain in custody under stringent law
Gold smuggling case: The Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru on Tuesday granted default bail to Kannada actress Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaraju in connection with a gold smuggling case. However, the actress is likely to remain in custody under a stringent anti-smuggling law. They were granted bail on two sureties each and a ₹ 2 lakh bond. The court also imposed strict conditions — they cannot leave the country and must not commit a similar crime. The court issued a stern warning, noting that any breach of these conditions would lead to the cancellation of their bail. Ranya's lawyer, BS Girish, argued that the actress will not be released even if she gets bail, as a case has been registered against her under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, 1974. The stringent charges were applied after multiple attempts were made by the accused to secure bail. Authorities said that it was necessary to prevent her from resuming illicit activities, citing her lack of cooperation during the investigation. Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior police officer K Ramchandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kilogrammes of gold valued at over ₹ 12.56 crore. The Karnataka government has formed a special team, led by a senior IAS officer, to probe the potential involvement of DGP Ramchandra Rao in the smuggling racket. She is currently lodged at the Bengaluru central prison along with two others — Tarun Raju and Sahil Sakaria Jain — who have also been booked under the COFEPOSA Act. The case is being investigated jointly by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the CBI. Last month, Ranya Rao told the Karnataka High Court that the search and seizure carried out by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) violated provisions of the Customs Act. Senior advocate Sandesh J Chouta, representing Ranya, argued that the search was conducted in violation of Section 102 of the Customs Act, which mandates that any person being searched has the right to be taken before a magistrate or a gazetted customs officer. Chouta told the court that the grounds of arrest were not formally communicated to Ranya's family members in writing, as required under the law. The actress was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after authorities seized gold bars worth ₹ 12.56 crore from her possession.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
Indian actor Ranya Rao gets conditional bail in gold smuggling case
Actor Ranya Rao on Tuesday was granted conditional bail by the Economic Offences Court in an alleged connection with a gold smuggling case. Despite the bail, she will remain in jail under the COFEPOSA (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) case. Tarun Kondaraju, a co-accused in the gold smuggling case, was also granted conditional bail. The court approved their release on the condition that each submits two sureties and a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh. The court also barred both from leaving the country and ordered them not to commit similar offences. Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials found her carrying gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation later filed a first information report–– the basis for initiating investigation in India––based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, additional director of DRI. The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, the Indian Penal Code. According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at Rs 189.2 million (Dh8.11 million).
