Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been detained for one year under the Cofeposa Act (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities) in connection with a gold smuggling case. The order, which was first issued in April by the Ministry of Finance, has now been officially confirmed by the Cofeposa Advisory Board in Bengaluru.
Ranya Rao Detained One Year in Gold Smuggling Case
Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardini Ranya, was arrested on March 3, 2025, by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru Airport after she arrived from Dubai. Officials recovered 14.2 kg of gold bars worth over ₹12.5 crore from her possession. Further investigation revealed that Ranya had traveled to Dubai alone 34 times between 2023 and 2025, raising serious suspicion.
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Raids at her home also led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash. She now faces multiple charges under the Customs Act, including Sections 135 and 104, for smuggling and non-cooperation.
The Advisory Board, which includes senior judges from the Karnataka High Court, reviewed the case and agreed with the detention order. Along with Ranya, two others, businessman Sahil Sakariya Jain and Telugu actor Virat Konduru are also facing similar action. Konduru, a U.S. passport holder, was arrested shortly after Ranya.
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Although Ranya had been granted default bail in the Customs Act case, she could not leave jail because the Cofeposa order allows for up to one year of preventive detention without trial. Her mother has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging this detention, and the hearing is expected next week.
Her legal team argues that the case is based only on suspicion and that DRI has not filed the necessary chargesheet in time. They also claim that some documents were tampered with during the investigation.
This case has sparked public debate over the use of the Cofeposa Act and the growing concern about celebrity involvement in smuggling activities.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
