Today, On 26th April, The Karnataka High Court has denied bail to Kannada actress Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju in the gold smuggling case. The court found the allegations serious and said the case involves a well-planned smuggling operation.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court refused to grant bail to Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao and her co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju. Both of them were arrested for their alleged role in a gold smuggling case.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act, and it involves serious allegations related to organised smuggling of gold into India.
With the invocation of the COFEPOSA Act, accused Ranya Rao will be ineligible for bail for a period of one year. Sources indicate that central agencies have taken this action due to repeated attempts by Rao and others involved in the case to secure bail.
Additionally, co-accused Tarun Raju and Sahil Sakaria Jain have also been charged under the COFEPOSA Act.
This case originates from a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) operation at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, during which gold bars valued at Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya Rao.
Ms. Rao is accused of disposing of the smuggled gold through a merchant named Sahil Jain, who was arrested on Wednesday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). With this development, a total of three individuals, including the actor, have been apprehended in the case.
DRI lawyer Madhu Rao stated that Tarun Raj and Ranya Rao traveled together to Dubai approximately 26 times, typically leaving in the morning and returning by evening. Prior to their arrest, Ranya Rao had booked Tarun Raj’s ticket, and he reportedly handed her the gold during one of their trips to Dubai.
Senior police officer Ramchandra Rao has also been interrogated in connection with the gold smuggling case. On March 15, the Karnataka government placed K Ramachandra Rao on compulsory leave effective immediately and until further notice regarding the investigation.
Additionally, Ranya Rao had been remanded to judicial custody until March 24, as reported on March 10. She appeared before the Economic Offences Court following her three-day custody with the DRI. It is important to note that she was arrested by the DRI for allegedly smuggling gold from Dubai.
Madhu N Rao, senior standing counsel for the State, countered that Ranya was arrested under the Customs Act.
Ranya, recognized for her performances in Kannada films such as Maanikya and Pataki, was apprehended earlier this week by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after returning from Dubai on March 3, 2025.
Her arrest came after authorities received a tip-off regarding her alleged involvement in gold smuggling into India. DRI officials had deployed a team at the airport to intercept her upon her arrival, and she was taken into custody immediately after landing.
Authorities claim that Ranya was attempting to smuggle 14.8 kilograms of gold into the country.
Ranya’s stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, who serves as the Director General of Police (DGP) for the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, expressed his shock and dismay upon learning of his stepdaughter’s arrest.
Reports suggest that Ranya, the adopted daughter of a DGP-rank officer in the state, utilized the VIP route at the airport to bypass inspections.
Following a search of her residence, DRI officials also seized jewelry worth Rs.2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs.2.67 crore, bringing the total value of the confiscated items in the case to Rs.17.29 crore.
Ranya was held in DRI custody for three days before the court ordered her to be placed in judicial custody for fifteen days last Monday.
Additionally, the High Court issued a directive against taking any swift actions regarding Ranya’s husband, Jatin Vijayakumar Hukkeri. It also prohibited 39 media outlets from broadcasting, publishing, or disseminating any defamatory remarks about senior police officer K Ramachandra Rao (IPS), who is Ranya’s stepfather.
Case Title: Harshavardini Ranya Rao AND Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Tarun Konduru Raju AND Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
Case No: Criminal Petition 5047/2025 c/w Criminal Petition 5432/2025