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Ranya Rao sentenced to one-year jail under COFEPOSA in gold smuggling case

  •   Thu, Jul 17 2025 12:02:58 PM

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 17: Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year in prison under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), intensifying the legal battle in the high-profile gold smuggling case in which she was arrested earlier this year.

Ranya, also known as Harshavardhani Ranya, was apprehended on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14.8 kg of gold from Dubai, valued at Rs 12.56 crore.

Despite being granted default bail in the initial stages—after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated time—she remained in judicial custody after a COFEPOSA detention order was issued on April 22. The stringent provisions under COFEPOSA allow preventive detention for up to one year without regular bail provisions, based on suspicion of smuggling or foreign exchange violations.

No relief despite default bail

Ranya, along with co-accused Tarun Raju, a US national, had secured default bail from a Bengaluru court under conditions including two sureties, a Rs 2 lakh bond, and a travel ban. However, the COFEPOSA detention overrode that relief, and subsequent bail pleas have been rejected by the Special Court for Economic Offences, Sessions Court, and the Karnataka High Court.

Frequent travel, raids, and further seizures

Investigation revealed that Ranya had travelled to Dubai alone 34 times between 2023 and 2025, raising suspicions of an organised smuggling operation. Searches at her residence yielded gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

She faces charges under Sections 135 and 104 of the Customs Act, while proceedings under Section 108 are ongoing. Her legal team has alleged procedural lapses and manipulation of documents by the DRI, and maintains that the offences are compoundable under law.

With the Advisory Board confirming her one-year preventive detention under COFEPOSA, Ranya Rao remains in custody, as her legal team explores further options. Her career and public image continue to hang in the balance as the investigation progresses.

 

 
  

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Title: Ranya Rao sentenced to one-year jail under COFEPOSA in gold smuggling case



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