The Bengaluru Civil and Sessions Court is scheduled to review actress Ranya Rao’s bail application today, Monday, March 24, in connection with the ongoing high-profile gold smuggling investigation, as reported by Republic World. Earlier, a special court had rejected Ranya’s bail petition after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) strongly opposed it, prompting her to approach the sessions court.

Recently, the sessions court instructed the DRI to formally present its objections. However, once the DRI submitted its arguments, Ranya Rao’s legal team requested additional time to prepare a counter-response, which resulted in a postponement of the hearing.

The case has captured widespread media and public interest, largely due to its cross-border dimensions and the alleged involvement of several individuals. One of the prominent figures, Telugu actor Tarun Raju, who is listed as the second accused, was denied bail by Bengaluru’s special court.

According to official documents accessed by News18, forensic reports and witness statements reportedly implicated Raju in a well-coordinated smuggling racket, allegedly spanning Dubai, Geneva, and India. The DRI has charged him with orchestrating the illegal entry of gold valued at over ₹12.56 crore, allegedly resulting in evasion of customs duties amounting to ₹4.83 crore. Authorities believe he played a significant role in ensuring the seamless movement of smuggled gold through covert channels.

On the professional front, Ranya Rao last appeared in the 2017 action-comedy film Pataki, portraying the role of Sangeetha under director Manju Swaraj.