Bengaluru: Kannada actress Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Kondaru Raju were granted default bail on Tuesday by a Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru in a high-profile gold smuggling case.
The bail was approved after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a charge sheet within the legally stipulated time. Judge Vishwanath C Gowdar allowed bail on the condition that each accused execute a bond of ₹2 lakh and provide two sureties.
The court also imposed strict conditions, including a travel ban without prior permission, mandatory cooperation with ongoing investigations, and an order not to engage in similar offences again.
Ranya Rao remains in custody despite the bail due to a separate detention order under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). This preventive law permits detention without trial for up to a year based on suspicion of smuggling-related activities.
Upon arriving in Dubai, Rao was arrested on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials seized 14.2 kilograms of gold bars worth over ₹12.56 crore from her.
The case has drawn significant media attention, with investigations still underway. Rao’s future release now hinges on legal outcomes under COFEPOSA provisions.
