Special court denies actress Ranya Rao's bail in gold smuggling case.

Special Court Denies Bail to Actress Ranya Rao in Gold Smuggling Case

A special court for economic offences in Bengaluru has rejected the bail plea of actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in connection with a large-scale gold smuggling case. The decision was pronounced by Special Judge Vishwanath Gowdar, though the detailed order is yet to be released.

Legal Arguments and Court ProceedingsSenior Advocate Kiran Javali, representing Ranya, contended that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had failed to comply with Section 102 of the Customs Act. He argued that Ranya was arrested without proper documentation, and her recorded statements were obtained without adequate rest, making them unreliable. He also pointed out discrepancies in the prosecution’s claims, as they mentioned three arrests but failed to provide details on the other two individuals involved.

On the other hand, Senior Standing Counsel Madhu N Rao, representing the State, asserted that Ranya’s arrest was justified under the Customs Act, even if procedural lapses existed. He emphasized the need to uncover a wider smuggling network and noted that forensic evidence was still pending. He urged the court to deny bail, highlighting the seriousness of the case and its ongoing investigation.

Ranya Rao’s Arrest and SeizuresRanya was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport on March 3 after being caught smuggling 14.2 kg of gold, valued at ₹12.86 crore. According to DRI officials, she allegedly concealed the gold in her belt and jacket to bypass customs checks. Reports also suggest that she took advantage of the VIP route, possibly due to her connection with a high-ranking police officer.

Following her arrest, DRI officials conducted a search at her residence, leading to the seizure of jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore. This brought the total value of confiscated assets in the case to ₹17.29 crore. Given the scale of the operation, authorities believe she was part of a larger smuggling syndicate.

Judicial Custody and Further Legal DevelopmentsInitially placed in DRI custody for three days, Ranya was later sent to judicial custody for fifteen days. The case continues to draw attention due to her alleged involvement and her connections with influential figures.

In a related development, the Karnataka High Court recently ruled against any immediate action against Ranya’s husband, Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri. The court also issued a directive preventing 39 media houses from publishing or broadcasting defamatory content against her stepfather, IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao.

Ongoing InvestigationThe rejection of Ranya’s bail signals the court’s inclination towards a thorough probe into the smuggling racket. Investigators are now focused on identifying the full extent of the network and other individuals involved in the illegal gold trade. With forensic reports awaited, the case is expected to unfold further in the coming weeks.

As the investigation progresses, all eyes remain on the legal proceedings and any new developments surrounding one of the biggest gold smuggling cases in recent times.