Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) for her role in a high-profile gold smuggling case, with the Advisory Board denying bail for the entire term. The ruling follows her arrest on March 3, 2025, at Kempegowda International Airport, where Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials seized 14.2 kg of gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore, concealed on her body as she attempted to pass through the green channel from Dubai.
Despite securing default bail on May 20, alongside co-accused Tarun Raju, due to the DRI’s failure to file a chargesheet within 60 days, both remain in Bengaluru Central Prison under COFEPOSA’s preventive detention, which allows up to one year of custody without formal charges. Rao’s earlier bail pleas were rejected by the Special Court for Economic Offences on March 14, the Sessions Court on March 27, and the Karnataka High Court on April 26. The Enforcement Directorate also attached assets worth Rs 34.12 crore, alleging Rao orchestrated a smuggling network, transferring Rs 38.4 crore via hawala. Investigations revealed 34 solo Dubai trips by Rao between 2023 and 2025, with raids recovering Rs 2.67 crore in cash and Rs 2.06 crore in jewellery.
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