Bengaluru’s Special Court for Economic Offences, led by Judge Vishwanath Channabasappa Gowdar, has rejected the bail plea of actress Ranya Rao, who is currently in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The actress faces serious charges in a gold smuggling case, with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) opposing her bail application, calling the case a matter of “national security.”
Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after arriving in Bengaluru from Dubai. She was caught carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore. The DRI claims that she used VIP channels to bypass airport checks, exploiting her connections for her own benefit. It was revealed that her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, allegedly facilitated this through a head constable at the airport.
Despite Ranya’s defense claiming procedural lapses during her arrest, the court decided to keep her in custody. The DRI has also raised concerns about her past activities, noting that she had made at least 27 trips to Dubai in the past year. Investigations have uncovered documents showing she had previously declared gold to Dubai customs under suspicious circumstances.
Ranya’s troubles are far from over, as both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may soon seek her custody for further investigation into the broader syndicate.
In related developments, another suspect, Tarun Kondaru Raju, was remanded to judicial custody. Raju, linked to the same smuggling operation, was arrested after the DRI analyzed Ranya’s phone records and call data.
Additionally, the state government has launched an inquiry into the alleged protocol violations at Kempegowda International Airport and the role of Ranya’s stepfather in facilitating her smuggling operations.
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