Kannada actress Ranya Rao on Tuesday filed a bail petition in the Karnataka High Court after facing repeated rejections from lower courts in connection with a gold smuggling case.
Her lawyer, B S Girish, moved the petition on Tuesday after her bail requests were denied by 3 different courts.
The latest rejection came on March 27 from the 64th CCH Sessions Court in Bengaluru. Prior to that, the Special Court for Economic Offences had refused her bail on March 14, and an earlier rejection came from the Magistrate Court. The repeated denials were based on the gravity of the charges against her.
Actress Allegedly Used Hawala Money For Gold Purchase. During one of the bail hearings, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) advocate Madhu Rao informed the sessions court that Ranya Rao had admitted to purchasing gold using illegal hawala money.
The actress was arrested on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after customs officials discovered 14.8 kg of gold in her possession. Investigations suggest that she may have been part of a larger smuggling network, raising concerns over organized gold smuggling operations.
Why Bail Was Denied?
The lower courts denied bail citing several reasons, including:
Seriousness of the offense: Smuggling nearly 15 kg of gold is a significant economic offense with international ramifications.
Potential influence on the investigation: Authorities expressed concerns that releasing Ranya Rao on bail could allow her to interfere with the ongoing probe.
Links to a broader smuggling network: Officials suspect she was not acting alone and may have connections with larger criminal syndicates involved in illegal gold trade.
High Court Decision Awaited
Now, the Karnataka High Court will hear her bail petition, and the final decision could have major implications for the case. If granted bail, it may set a precedent for other accused individuals in smuggling cases. However, if denied, Ranya Rao may have to remain in judicial custody as the investigation progresses.
The case has garnered significant media attention, given the involvement of a well-known actress, and authorities are expected to take a firm stance against economic offenses linked to smuggling.
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