Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was accused of the gold smuggling case, was denied bail by the Special Court for Economic Offences on Friday. The court pointed out that the charges against her are serious.
Rao will be staying in judicial custody.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On Kannada actress Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai says, "It is a big cause of concern...I feel very sorry that when these issues are happening, the so-called eminent people are at the centre of that issue. It makes… pic.twitter.com/lRh0B0m9Z3
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2025
Rao had applied for bail in the Special Court for Economic Offences after Magistrate Court rejected her plea.
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Meanwhile, a special court remanded hotelier Tarun Raju, the second accused in the case, to judicial custody for 15 days.
In connection with the gold smuggling case, Raju was arrested on Wednesday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). He was remanded to DRI's custody for three days.
Bengaluru, Karnataka: On actress Ranya Rao's gold smuggling case, BJP Karnataka President B.Y. Vijayendra says, "The gold smuggling case involving Ranya Rao is a high-profile matter. Since she is the daughter of a senior IPS officer and the seized gold is worth more than ₹13… pic.twitter.com/aAdoUpXesr
— IANS (@ians_india) March 14, 2025
Ranya Rao was arrested on March 4 for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.8 kilograms of gold valued at Rs 12 crore into India. While returning from Dubai she was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport.
Ranya was apprehended following the arrests of two foreigners, coming from Dubai, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai while attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India valued at Rs 18.92 crore on March 6.
DRI found the gold concealed in a specially designed waist belt. Following searches at her residence, officials discovered gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
Ranya was alleged of making 30 trips to Dubai over the past year 'smuggling' significant quantities of gold.
After Ranya's arrest, the CBI launched a probe into the alleged role of public servants in facilitating gold smuggling from Dubai following a complaint by the DRI.
"The possibility of the involvement of unknown public servants of the government of India and unknown others, with such a coordinated network, needs to be investigated," the DRI said.
Following DRI's complaint, the CBI registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a case of money laundering against Rao and conducted searches.
