NEW DELHI: Actress Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju on Tuesday were granted default bail by a Bengaluru court in connection with a gold smuggling case , but with strict conditions attached. The bail was granted after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the legally prescribed period.
However, Ranya will remain in custody despite the bail, as she is also facing proceedings under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA).
COFEPOSA is a stringent preventive detention law aimed at curbing smuggling and safeguarding foreign exchange reserves.
It permits authorities to detain individuals without trial for up to one year based solely on suspicion of their involvement in such offences.
The bail was granted on the condition of two sureties each and a bond of Rs 2 lakh.
The court also barred both from leaving the country and ordered them not to engage in similar offences.
The case surfaced on March 3, when Ranya, also known as Harshavardhani Ranya, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai.
Earlier, on April 26 the Bengaluru hight court had rejected Rao's bail plea.
On March 14 and 27, Ranya Rao’s bail pleas were also rejected by the Special Court for Economic Offences and the Sessions Court, respectively. Tarun Raju, a US citizen and a co-accused in the case, was also denied bail on April 7.
Ranya’s counsel, meanwhile had accused the DRI of document manipulation and argued the offences are compoundable. Meanwhile, on April 22, the Central Government issued a detention order against Ranya under the COFEPOSA Act.
Authorities valued the seized gold at Rs 12.56 crore. Investigations that followed uncovered that Ranya had travelled alone to Dubai 34 times between 2023 and 2025, raising suspicions of her involvement in a larger gold smuggling network.
A subsequent raid on her residence led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. She has been charged under multiple provisions of Sections 135 and 104 of the Customs Act. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has also initiated proceedings under Section 108 to probe potential financial violations.
However, Ranya will remain in custody despite the bail, as she is also facing proceedings under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA).
COFEPOSA is a stringent preventive detention law aimed at curbing smuggling and safeguarding foreign exchange reserves.
It permits authorities to detain individuals without trial for up to one year based solely on suspicion of their involvement in such offences.
The bail was granted on the condition of two sureties each and a bond of Rs 2 lakh.
The court also barred both from leaving the country and ordered them not to engage in similar offences.
The case surfaced on March 3, when Ranya, also known as Harshavardhani Ranya, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with 14.8 kilograms of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai.
Earlier, on April 26 the Bengaluru hight court had rejected Rao's bail plea.
On March 14 and 27, Ranya Rao’s bail pleas were also rejected by the Special Court for Economic Offences and the Sessions Court, respectively. Tarun Raju, a US citizen and a co-accused in the case, was also denied bail on April 7.
Ranya’s counsel, meanwhile had accused the DRI of document manipulation and argued the offences are compoundable. Meanwhile, on April 22, the Central Government issued a detention order against Ranya under the COFEPOSA Act.
Authorities valued the seized gold at Rs 12.56 crore. Investigations that followed uncovered that Ranya had travelled alone to Dubai 34 times between 2023 and 2025, raising suspicions of her involvement in a larger gold smuggling network.
A subsequent raid on her residence led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. She has been charged under multiple provisions of Sections 135 and 104 of the Customs Act. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has also initiated proceedings under Section 108 to probe potential financial violations.
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