No relief to Ranya Rao in gold smuggling case, Kannada actress’ bail plea rejected for third time

Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: A Sessions Court in Bengaluru rejected the bail application of Kannada actor Ranya Rao who is accused of smuggling gold. This is the third time Ranya's Rao's bail plea has been rejected. Will the actress now approach Karnataka High Court?

Ranya Rao has faced another legal setback as the 64th City Civil and Sessions Court has rejected her bail plea in the ongoing gold smuggling case.

This is the third time her bail plea was rejected. A Special Court for Economic Offences on March 14 turned down her request for bail. Ranya Rao had first applied for bail in the Magistrate Court, but her request was rejected.

According to an India Today report, Ranya Rao’s legal team is now preparing to move the Karnataka High Court, to apply for the Kannada actress' bail.

Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport after officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) 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, 1988, along with 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.

Gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were seized from Ranya Rao, the step-daughter of DGP rank officer K Ramachandra Rao, at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 upon her arrival from Dubai.

Following this, searches were conducted at her residence, where officials recovered gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore.

Ranya Rao and hotelier Tarun Raju have already been arrested in connection with the case.

Ranya Rao Case: Gold Dealer Arrested

Earlier on Thursday, A gold dealer was arrested for allegedly assisting Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao in disposing of smuggled gold, PTI reported.

The dealer, a native of Ballari, was questioned in connection with the case following which he was arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Wednesday, they said.

Sahil Jain has been accused of assisting and abetting Rao in disposing of smuggled gold and sharing the sale proceeds

Ranya Rao ’confessed’ to using hawala money

Ranya Rao admitted to using the illegal ‘hawala’ channel for transferring funds to buy gold, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) told a court on Tuesday, reported PTI.

During a court proceeding in Bengaluru, advocate Madhu Rao of the DRI asserted that the accused had admitted to the financial transaction being conducted via unofficial means.

As part of the legal process, officials have invoked Section 108 of the Customs Act, which mandates a judicial inquiry, reported PTI, adding the authorities clarified that this is not a police interrogation but a judicial investigation to scrutinise financial irregularities and potential violations of law.