Latest news with #Cofeposa
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Kannada Actress's Family Challenges Prolonged Custody In Karnataka High Court Despite Court-Approved Release
The mother of Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has approached the Karnataka High Court through a habeas corpus petition, questioning the legal basis for her daughter's ongoing imprisonment in a major gold trafficking case. Despite receiving court approval for release, the actress remains behind bars due to overlapping legal proceedings. Rao received authorization for release on May 20 from the Special Court for Economic Offences, but her freedom has been blocked by additional charges filed under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (Cofeposa). This separate legal framework allows authorities to maintain custody of individuals suspected of smuggling activities that threaten foreign exchange conservation. The actress was apprehended at Bengaluru airport on March 3 following allegations of attempting to transport 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. According to official reports, a comprehensive physical examination revealed gold bars strategically hidden around her body using medical bandages and tissues, particularly around her waist and leg areas. Investigators also discovered additional gold pieces concealed within her footwear and clothing pockets. The confiscated precious metal, confirmed to be 24-carat quality, carried an estimated value exceeding Rs 12.56 crore. Legal proceedings have been initiated against Rao under both the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act. During recent court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath informed the court that formal objections had been submitted regarding the case. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18. The Special Court for Economic Offences had granted release to both Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju last month, requiring each to provide two guarantors and post a Rs 2 lakh security bond. The release conditions included restrictions on international travel and prohibitions against repeating similar offenses. Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar approved the release after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence failed to file charges within the required timeframe. However, the Cofeposa legislation enables authorities to maintain preventive detention for individuals suspected of engaging in smuggling operations or activities that could harm foreign exchange stability, effectively overriding the earlier bail decision. This legal mechanism has resulted in Rao's continued incarceration despite the court's initial approval for her release.
Hans India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Kannada Actor's Mother Challenges Daughter's Prolonged Custody Despite Court-Granted Bail
The mother of Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has approached the Karnataka High Court with a habeas corpus petition, questioning the legality of her daughter's ongoing imprisonment despite being granted bail in a major gold smuggling investigation. The petition seeks immediate clarification regarding the extended custody period and challenges the circumstances preventing the actress's release. Ranya Rao received bail approval on May 20 from the Special Court for Economic Offences, yet remains behind bars due to additional charges filed under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act of 1974, commonly known as Cofeposa. This separate legal provision allows authorities to maintain preventive detention for individuals suspected of engaging in smuggling activities or actions that threaten foreign exchange conservation. The actress was apprehended at Bengaluru airport on March 3 following allegations of attempting to transport 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. According to investigation reports, a thorough personal examination revealed gold bars strategically concealed around her waist and lower legs using medical bandages and tissues. Additional gold pieces and bars were discovered hidden within her footwear and clothing pockets. The confiscated gold, confirmed to be 24-carat quality, carries an estimated market value exceeding Rs 12.56 crore. The Special Court for Economic Offences granted bail to both Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju after requiring each defendant to provide two guarantors and execute bonds worth Rs 2 lakh. The bail conditions specifically prohibit international travel and mandate that neither accused engage in similar offenses. Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar approved the bail following the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence's failure to submit required charge sheets within the legally mandated timeframe. During recent court proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath informed the bench that formal objections had been submitted regarding the petition. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for June 18 to address the mother's legal challenge. The case highlights the complex intersection of multiple legal frameworks in high-value smuggling cases, where bail in one proceeding may not guarantee immediate release due to overlapping charges under different statutes.
India Today
03-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Ranya Rao's mother moves High Court over continued detention despite bail
Kannada actor Ranya Rao's mother has filed a habeas corpus petition before the Karnataka High Court, challenging the legality of her daughter's detention in connection with a gold smuggling Rao was granted bail on May 20 by the Special Court for Economic Offences, but continues to remain in custody, due to a separate case that was filed under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (Cofeposa). advertisementRanya Rao was arrested at the Bengaluru airport on March 3 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai. A detailed personal search reportedly revealed gold bars concealed around her waist and calves using bandages and tissues. Additional gold bars and cut pieces were also found hidden in her shoes and front pockets. The seized gold, stated to be of 24-carat purity, was valued at over Rs 12.56 crore. Rao has been booked under the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Aravind Kamath submitted that objections had already been filed in the matter. The court subsequently adjourned the proceedings to June Rao and the second accused, Tarun Kondaru Raju, were granted bail by the Special Court for Economic Offences last month after asking both to furnish two sureties and execute a bond of Rs 2 lakh each. The bail was subject to conditions that the accused would not leave the country and would not repeat the offence. The bail was granted after officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence failed to submit the charge sheet within the stipulated period. The order was passed by Justice Vishwanath C due to the Cofeposa charges, Rao continues to be in preventive detention, as the legislation empowers authorities to detain individuals suspected of involvement in smuggling or activities detrimental to the conservation of foreign exchange. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ready to cooperate with probe, says Karnataka home minister Parameshwara after ED raids
BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said he will extend his complete cooperation to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which has been carrying out searches at 16 locations, including educational institutions linked to him. Among the premises raided by ED on Wednesday were the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Siddhartha Medical College in Tumakuru and Siddhartha Medical College in Begur, as well as the Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education, a deemed-to-be university. Parameshwara is the chancellor of the deemed-to-be university to which the colleges are affiliated. According to ED officials, their probe has revealed the trust which runs the institutions had paid ₹40 lakh to clear Kannada actor Ranya Rao's credit card bills. Rao, the step daughter of former DGP Murlidhar Rao, was arrested from Bengaluru international airport on March 3 with 14.2 kilograms of gold bars estimated to cost ₹12.56 crore. She was recently granted bail after the investigating agency failed to file a charge sheet within the statutory deadline but continues to be in custody under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (Cofeposa). Parameshwara said the central agency has sought financial records for four to five years. 'I have asked the staff to co-operate and provide them with whatever documents or details they asked for related to the institution. Obviously, they have questioned the staff in our accounts section,' Parameshwara told reporters on Thursday. 'Whatever comes out of their verification or search or whatever you call it, I am ready to cooperate. I have told the same to our staff. Because it is an institution. It is not an individual,' he added. Parameshwara declined to comment on allegations that the trust had spent ₹40 lakh to pay Ranya Rao's credit card bills. 'I don't want to comment at this point of time,' he said. 'Let the investigation get completed. They must give us a report. I don't want to react.' Some Congress leaders speculate that Parameshwara was being targeted because he was seen as a potential candidate for the chief minister's post. Parameshwara declined to comment on the political angle, stating, 'There will be a time when I will come out and talk about it. At this point, no comments.' Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who met Parameshwara on Thursday, downplayed the allegations. Shivakumar said the minister had informed him that he had given a gift at the time of Ranya Rao's wedding. 'I just spoke to Parameshwara, there was a marriage (ceremony), we are in public life, we run institutions. As a gesture to people we know, we give lots of gifts, we give Re 1, ₹10, ₹10 lakh, ₹5 lakh. I think he might have also given a gift. It was a wedding, nothing wrong in it,' Shivakumar said. The deputy chief minister said public figures often meet hundreds of people and are not always aware of their personal dealings. 'Whatever activities done by that lady is a personal issue, the law will take its course. As far as Parameshwara is concerned, we meet thousands of people, we don't know who does what. We don't want to interfere with the law and ED,' he added. BJP leader and former minister R Ashoka said the Siddhartha institutions were under scrutiny due to suspected financial ties to gold smuggling operations. 'It is established in the investigation that the gold was brought here and given to many persons. They might have got the information on the gold smuggling money being invested in the Siddhartha Education institutions,' he said, demanding strict action against all those involved. Ashoka also referred to ongoing investigations involving Congress leaders in other cases, and said those found guilty should face the consequences.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Gold smuggling case: Actor Ranya Rao gets bail, but to stays in jail under Cofeposa
BENGALURU: A special court in the city for economic offences granted Tuesday to Kannada actor , daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao and arrested by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on charges of smuggling gold. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rao, however, cannot walk out of the jail as she has been booked under Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (Cofeposa), which mandates a prison period of one year without bail. Bail for Ranya's associate Her alleged associate was also granted bail. Earlier, courts repeatedly turned down the bail petitions of Rao and Raju. As DRI failed to file chargesheet within the stipulated 60 days, counsel for the accused approached the court seeking statutory bail. Ranya has to remain in the judicial custody of Bengaluru Central Prison as the Union govt invoked the stringent . The court directed the two to provide surety of two persons and a bond of Rs 2 lakh each. Rao's counsel Kiran Javali said they approached the HC, challenging Cofeposa. "The matter is listed for June 3 for the Centre to file objections," he said. Rao was arrested on March 3 this year at Kempegowda International Airport soon after she flew down from Dubai. That day, DRI sleuths seized 14.2kg gold bars from her.
