Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 18: The Bengaluru Civil and Sessions Court has adjourned the bail plea hearing of actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a sensational gold smuggling case, to March 19. The court has directed the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to file its objections before the next hearing.

Ranya Rao, who was taken into custody after being caught with 14.8 kg of gold at Bengaluru International Airport, had initially approached the Special Court for Economic Offences. However, her bail plea was rejected on March 14, prompting her legal team to move the higher court.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to Ranya Rao’s husband, Jatin Hukkeri. The court has restrained the DRI from taking punitive action against him without following due legal procedures. The next hearing in his case is scheduled for March 24.

Senior advocate Prabhuling Navadgi, appearing for Jatin, argued that he had no involvement in the smuggling case and was being wrongfully targeted. His legal team also pointed out that Jatin and Ranya had separated unofficially within a month of their marriage in November 2024. The DRI, however, has been investigating his role since Ranya had used his credit card to book her flight tickets.

Ranya Rao’s arrest has sent shockwaves across Karnataka, especially after it was revealed that she had allegedly used the name of her stepfather, DGP K Ramachandra Rao, to bypass airport security checks. Following the controversy, the Karnataka government placed DGP Rao on compulsory leave on March 15 and ordered a high-level inquiry into his possible links to the case. Senior IAS officer Gaurav Gupta has been tasked with leading the probe, while central agencies like the CBI and ED have also joined the investigation.

Further complicating the matter, Ranya Rao has accused the DRI of misconduct, alleging that officials physically assaulted her in custody and coerced her into signing statements. She has claimed that they threatened to implicate her stepfather if she did not comply with their demands.

With multiple agencies scrutinizing the case and legal battles unfolding in court, the gold smuggling controversy continues to dominate headlines in Karnataka. All eyes are now on the upcoming hearings, which could determine the fate of Ranya Rao and those linked to the case.