Latest news with #RanyaRao
Hans India
19 hours 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
2 days ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Stay open: Customs mustn't let its green channel turn red
As reported, the government is working on a strategy to take down an illicit but sophisticated network of 'import carriers' at Indian air and seaports—a gang of smugglers, i.e., masquerading as regular tourists. Of late, there have been many reports of duty-evasion cases. Among those that caught public attention, a Kannada actor was stopped at Bengaluru airport allegedly trying to smuggle in more than 14kg of gold in March. Authorities not only have the usual suspects under watch, but also people with 'special privileges' at airports. 'Import carriers' are suspected of sneaking in illegal quantities of gold, electronic gadgets and even Chinese toys, which face high tariff and quality barriers. So far, so usual. No one wants smugglers running rings around customs and police, who must enforce the law. But it would help to know exactly how widespread this problem is. Data should be made public so that sporadic slip-throughs do not become a basis for tighter policy. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Ranya Rao arrest: Let gold enter India duty-free The measures being discussed reportedly include making customs declarations more detailed, placing a cap on how often passengers—especially frequent flyers from trade hubs like Dubai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou—can avail annual duty-free allowances and tweaking the Atithi app's declaration system for stricter tracking and 'AI-based profiling.' Even if well intended, some of it sounds like a throwback to the days before India's economy was opened up. Back then, our duties were sky-high and airports were notorious for nosy and corrupt officials at customs, whose 'leave us a bottle' demand was so customary that it often went unstated, making a stop at the duty-free shop a ritual of passage. Rules began being eased in the 1980s. As arrival numbers rose, the opening of a walk-through green channel marked a big moment: those with nothing to declare could pass without their bags being opened for scrutiny. Also Read: Centre eyes tighter customs rules to curb smuggling by 'import carriers' What's puzzling is why so many outdated rules persist. There's a limit of about ₹50,000 on the value of goods an Indian resident can bring in free of duty from most countries. This is absurd, given that a single iPhone can cost twice that much. Bizarrely, this allowance varies by various criteria. Such caps should be uniform and set significantly higher if the idea is to keep commercial imports out and block a route that can be used to dodge duties. As the green channel's spirit of trust-based regulation is the current government's stated approach, it would be odd if customs clearance were to get more cumbersome. But then, we have not entirely escaped our long history of protectionism. India's 150% duty on Scotch whisky remains a globally cited example, though a free trade pact with the UK is expected to lower it. Other such agreements could ease other import barriers. If we agree in principle that imports are best eased for larger trade gains, then no policy tweaks should be made that will make it harder for common travellers to comply with our rules. Also Read: Raghuram Rajan: How emerging economies can prosper in a protectionist world Airports need to welcome arrivals, not daunt them. Indian customs declaration forms, whether on paper or digital, look like an anachronism for their complexity. They are a reminder of the closed economy we once had, when packing one's personal stuff would risk flying into a customs web in India. None of this is an argument for authorities to drop their guard against smuggling. Wilful evaders of customs duty need to be nabbed, but let's also keep overreach in check. Don't let the green channel start turning red.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Indian Express
After actress Ranya Rao, key accused Sahil Jain gets statutory bail in Bengaluru gold smuggling case
A key accused in a gold smuggling case that unravelled following the March 3 arrest of Kannada actress Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was granted statutory bail on Wednesday by a special court for economic offences. The Bengaluru court granted statutory bail to Sahil Sakariya Jain, 27, who is accused of being a key facilitator for a gold smuggling syndicate operating in India, after the DRI did not file a chargesheet under the Customs Act of 1962 at the end of 60 days following his March 26 arrest in the Karnataka capital. On May 20 the special court granted bail under similar conditions to Ranya Rao, alias Harshavardini Ranya, 33, and her close associate Tarun Konduru alias Virat Konduru, 36, a Telugu actor arrested on March 9 for smuggling gold in connivance with the actress. However, the two actors and Sahil Jain, an alleged gold/hawala dealer, will not be released from prison as the Ministry of Finance issued executive orders on April 22 for their preventive detention for a year under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act 1974. The special court for economic offences noted in its bail order for Sahil Jain that 'the said accused No.3 (Sahil Jain) is in judicial custody for more than 60 days and till date the prosecution has not filed the final report'. 'The submissions of the complainant agency (DRI) as to the accused being served with the detention order under the provisions of COFEPOSA Act 1974 in itself will not be the ground to deny the right vested with the accused No.3 as per the section 187 (3) (ii) of BNSS,' the court observed. The court ruled that Sahil Jain 'is entitled to default bail as contemplated u/sec. 187 (3) (ii) of BNSS, as till date the prosecution/complainant has not chosen to file the complaint in the case on hand,' the court said. He can be released on bail on execution of a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties and should not violate bail conditions, the court ruled. Sahil Jain was arrested on March 26 by the DRI after he was identified during investigations as the intended recipient of 14.2 kg of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai by Ranya Rao in association with Virat Konduru. Ranya Rao was arrested following her arrival from Dubai with gold valued at Rs 12.56 crore, which was concealed on her body. On March 9, the DRI arrested Virat Konduru, a US passport holder, after he was identified as the actress's accomplice in the gold smuggling racket. The DRI has alleged that Sahil Jain played a central role in disposing of 49.6 kg of gold worth Rs 40.13 crore smuggled from Dubai by Ranya Rao between November 2024 and February 2025. He allegedly transferred Rs 39.39 crore of her earnings to Dubai. The DRI has alleged that Sahil Jain is part of a sophisticated smuggling network operating in India and abroad and that a prosecution complaint was filed against him by the agency in a Kolkata court on March 5, 2022, in a case involving the smuggling of 41.64 kg of gold. The CBI and the ED are also investigating the gold smuggling case from criminal and money-laundering angles and have registered cases in this regard. The ED recently searched properties including offices of an education trust belonging to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on the grounds that there had been monetary transactions between the trust and Ranya Rao. The trust headquartered in Tumkur is alleged to have paid Rs 40 lakh towards her credit card bills. The CBI registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 along with the BNS section for criminal conspiracy on March 7 on the basis of a letter written by DRI Director-General Abhai Kumar Srivastav. According to the letter to CBI Director Praveen Sood, two foreigners (an Omani and an UAE national) were arrested at Mumbai airport on March 6 while trying to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold valued at Rs 18.92 crore from Dubai. The foreigners had arrived at the airport on multiple earlier occasions as well, the DRI chief's letter said. Since the DRI arrested Ranya Rao, who had also travelled multiple times to Dubai allegedly for gold smuggling, the two cases are similar, the agency has stated. 'The above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai (UAE),' says the DRI chief's letter to the CBI director.
