Latest news with #PreventionofSmugglingActivitiesAct
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Income Tax officials allowed to quiz Ranya Rao for 3 days in gold smuggling case
Kannada actor Ranya Rao will be interrogated by the Income Tax Department for three days in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Special Court for Economic Offences has granted permission for the questioning, which will take place from today until June 13 between 10 am and 5 pm. As directed by the court, the interrogation will be videographed inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, where Rao is currently incarcerated. 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. The Income Tax Department is probing the source of funds used to purchase the smuggled gold. The interrogation, led by woman inspector Shwetha and inspector Ravipal, is expected to shed light on possible financial networks and identify any accomplices involved in the June 3, Rao's mother filed a habeas corpus petition before the Karnataka High Court, challenging the legality of her daughter's detention in connection with the 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).advertisement IN THIS STORY#Bengaluru#Karnataka
Hans India
05-06-2025
- 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.
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Hans India
Gold smuggling case: Actress Ranya Rao & second accused Tarun Raju get bail
Bengaluru: In a major development, the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru has granted conditional bail to jailed actress Ranya Rao on Tuesday. The court has also granted relief to the second accused Tarun Raju by allowing his bail petition. The accused have sought bail on the grounds of non-submission of the charge sheet against them by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) even after 60 days. Considering the plea, the court has granted bail. The court has asked the accused not to leave the country without prior permission of the court. The matter has been adjourned to June 2. Senior counsel Girish made submissions for Ranya Rao. The court has directed the accused persons to provide provide surety by two persons and also furnish a bond of Rs 2 lakh each. The court said that the applications filed by accused under the Section 187(3)(ii) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Act were allowed. The court has directed Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju to appear before this court on all the dates of hearing without fail. They are further directed not to tamper or hamper the prosecution witnesses and to co-operate with the Investigating Officer's investigation. Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of senior police officer Ramchandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold, valued at more than Rs 12.56 crore. Ranya Rao and the other two accused in the case are currently lodged at the Bengaluru Central Prison. On May 13, the Karnataka High Court directed the Union government to file its objections within two weeks in connection with the petition filed by Ranya Rao, challenging the invocation of the COFEPOSA Act against her in the gold smuggling case. The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), has been invoked against Ranya Rao. The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), a nodal agency under the Ministry of Finance, has invoked the COFEPOSA Act against the actress and other accused in the gold smuggling case as per the recommendation of the DRI, probing the case. The bench has asked the Central government to file the objections within two weeks and adjourned the matter to June 3. A vacation bench of Justice H.P. Sandesh and Justice Ramachandra Huddar gave the directions while looking into the petition by Ranya Rao seeking to declare that imposing the COFEPOSA Act against her is illegal and 'void ab initio' (void from the beginning). In legal contexts, 'void ab initio' means that a contract, agreement, or other action is considered invalid and has no legal effect from the moment it was created. Ranya Rao submitted that the constitutional provisions are violated in her case, and the grounds of her detention are erroneous and display a lack of application of mind.
