A special court in Bengaluru rejected the bail plea of Kannada actor Ranya Rao on Thursday, March 27, 2025, dealing a blow to the actress embroiled in a high-profile gold smuggling case.

Rao, arrested earlier this month by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport, faces charges of smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold worth Rs 12.56 crore from Dubai, concealed in a specially designed belt.

The DRI told the court that Rao confessed to transferring funds via hawala to procure the gold, a revelation that has deepened the probe into financial irregularities linked to the smuggling racket.

The agency opposed her bail, arguing that her release could jeopardize the ongoing investigation, which now includes a judicial inquiry under Section 108 of the Customs Act. The special court, hearing cases of economic offenses, reserved its order earlier this week before delivering the rejection today.

Rao’s arrest on March 5 followed her return from Dubai, where she was intercepted with 14 kilograms of gold bars and 800 grams of jewelry. The case has drawn widespread attention, with authorities alleging misuse of protocol to facilitate her activities. Despite her legal team’s arguments, the court sided with the prosecution, citing the gravity of the offense and evidence of her involvement.

As the investigation widens, Rao remains in custody, with the DRI intensifying efforts to uncover the network behind one of Karnataka’s biggest gold smuggling busts in recent years.