(Image source from: Facebook.com/ActressRanyaOfficial)
Ranya Rao, a Kannada actress taken into custody for allegedly smuggling gold bars valued at Rs 14.56 crore in March, was released on bail by a special court on Tuesday. Nevertheless, she will continue to be held in jail due to charges under the rigorous Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), enacted in 1974, which permits detention without bail for up to a year. The Special Court for Economic Offences allowed bail for Ms Rao, who is the stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao, a high-ranking Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, and another defendant named Tarun Kondaru Raju, after it observed that the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had not presented a charge sheet in the case.
In addition to the DRI, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are also examining the situation. The two individuals had their bail granted on the stipulation that they provide two sureties and a bond amounting to Rs 2 lakh. They have been instructed not to leave the country. Ranya Rao was apprehended while attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold bars, worth Rs 14.56 crore, upon her arrival from Dubai at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3.
The actress, who made her film debut in the 2014 project Maanikya, attracted the attention of DRI officials after her fourth trip to Dubai within a span of 15 days. Reports indicate that she undertook 27 visits to Dubai during the previous year. Sources mentioned that she would wear some of the gold and hide the remainder in her clothing to evade detection. Following her arrest, investigators searched her residence and uncovered gold jewelry valued at over Rs 2 crore along with cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.
In a confidential statement, the actress disclosed information regarding her travels to destinations including the Middle East, Dubai, and several Western nations. She has acknowledged possession of 17 gold bars. Meanwhile, Mrs Rao has denied any wrongdoing and expressed that she was "shocked and devastated" by the news of her stepdaughter's arrest for smuggling. On March 5, the senior officer stated that there had not been any negative impact on his career, mentioning that he had not been in contact with his stepdaughter since her marriage four months prior. He also indicated that he was unaware of her and her spouse Jatin Hukkeri's business activities.
