Both Rao and Raju will remain in custody, since they are also booked under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974. It is a preventive detention law aimed at curbing smuggling.
Published May 20, 2025 | 10:31 PM ⚊ Updated May 20, 2025 | 10:31 PM
Ranya Rao was taken into custody on 3 March at Kempegowda International Airport,
Synopsis: Kannada actor Ranya Rao and Telugu actor-businessman Tarun Raju, both arrested for their alleged involvement in a high-profile gold smuggling case, were granted default bail on 20 May by a special court after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence failed to file a chargesheet within the mandated 60 days. Despite the bail, both remain in custody as they are also detained under a separate preventive detention law.
A special court for economic offences in Karnataka on Tuesday, 20 May, granted default bail to Kannada actor Ranya Rao and Telugu actor-businessman Tarun Raju, both arrested in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case that came to light in March this year.
The court granted default bail as the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated 60-day period. The bail is conditional upon the execution of a ₹2 lakh personal bond, along with two sureties each.
However, despite securing bail in this particular case, both Ranya and Tarun will remain in custody, since they are also booked under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974.
It is a preventive detention law aimed at curbing smuggling.
Ranya is the stepdaughter of K Ramachandra Rao, a Director General of Police-rank officer and the current Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
She made her acting debut in 2014 with the Kannada film Maanikya. Tarun Raju, also arrested in the case, is known in the Telugu film industry and has business interests.
The case has sparked widespread debate over the alleged misuse of official privileges, the treatment of high-profile detainees, and the influence of political and police connections.
Ranya Rao was taken into custody on 3 March at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, after officials allegedly found 14.2 kilogrammes of gold bars concealed in her luggage.
The seized gold is valued at ₹12.56 crore. The following day, raids on her residence in the posh locality of Lavelle Road in Bengaluru led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash.
Preliminary findings suggest that Ranya, upon arriving at the airport, would allegedly identify herself as the DGP’s daughter and request police escorts to bypass standard security checks.
The Karnataka government ordered an inquiry into whether Ranya Rao misused her VIP privileges to evade scrutiny.
In an order dated 10 March, Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta was appointed to lead the inquiry and submit findings within a week.
On 15 March, Ranya Rao submitted a letter to the Additional Director General, DRI, alleging custodial torture and procedural violations.
The letter, sent from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, claimed that she was arrested from the aircraft and not from the airport terminal as stated in official records. She alleged being denied food and sleep and that she was forced to sign multiple statements and blank pages under duress.
She claimed to have signed “about 50–60 typed pages and around 40 blank white pages” under compulsion. The actor also stated that she could identify the officials involved in the alleged assault.
When produced before court on 10 March, she denied physical torture but said:
“I was verbally tortured and threatened. I am traumatised and emotionally broken.”
The DRI, for its part, stated that all procedures, including Ranya’s arrest and interrogation, were electronically recorded.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
