Gold Smuggling Case: Ranya Rao Get Bail, But To Be In Jail Under COFEPOSA

Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been granted bail by a Bengaluru court on Tuesday in gold smuggling case.

The Special Court for Economic Offences has granted bail to Rao and the second accused Tarun Kondaru Raju, on the condition that each submits two sureties and a personal bond of ₹2 lakh.

Conditions For The Bail

Justice Vishwanath C Gowdar also imposed the condition that they cannot leave the country and must not commit a similar crime. However, her lawyer BS Girish argued will not be released even if she gets bail as a case has been registered against her under The Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA).

Despite being granted bail, Ranya Rao will not be released from custody as she now faces charges under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). This preventive detention law is designed to combat smuggling and protect India's foreign exchange reserves by allowing authorities to detain individuals suspected of such offences without trial for a certain period.

Rao will remain in custody until she secures bail in the COFEPOSA case as well. However, this is currently challenged by her mother in the Karnataka High Court and the next hearing is on June 3.

Case Background

The case against her stems from a major gold smuggling incident on March 3, when customs officials at Kempegowda International Airport seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from her luggage upon her arrival from Dubai.

Subsequent searches at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash.

Ranya is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, who holds the rank of Director General of Police. He has also been questioned as part of the investigation. Authorities allege that Ranya misused her stepfather's name and took advantage of security protocols meant for high-ranking officials to bypass checks at the airport.

In light of these developments, the Karnataka government placed DGP Ramachandra Rao on compulsory leave starting March 15, with immediate effect and until further notice.