Ranya Rao Gets 1-Year Jail for Gold Smuggling

In a major development in the gold smuggling case that shocked Sandalwood, Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).

The Advisory Board overseeing COFEPOSA cases recently ruled that Ranya will not be granted bail during her detention period. This decision effectively nullifies earlier relief granted by a city court on May 20, when both Ranya Rao and her co-accused Tarun Raju were granted default bail due to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failing to file a chargesheet within the stipulated time. Despite securing bail on a Rs 2 lakh bond with surety conditions, both continued to remain in custody owing to the COFEPOSA preventive detention order.

The case dates back to March, when Ranya Rao returned from Dubai and attempted to exit through the green channel at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport—meant for passengers without dutiable items. DRI officials noticed her nervous behavior during questioning, prompting a thorough search conducted by female officers.

What followed was a stunning revelation: 14.2 kilograms of concealed gold, valued at approximately ?12.56 crore, was recovered from Ranya. She was immediately detained by authorities. Her subsequent bail pleas were rejected twice by local courts and later dismissed by the Karnataka High Court.

COFEPOSA allows authorities to detain individuals suspected of smuggling-related activities for up to a year, even in the absence of formal charges. With the Advisory Board upholding her detention, Ranya Rao will now serve the full term in custody.

The case has sparked widespread discussion in the Kannada film industry, with many expressing shock over Ranya’s involvement in such a high-stakes smuggling operation.