Kannada film actress Ranya Rao and her accomplice, Tarun Raju, were on May 20 granted default bail by a Bangalore court in connection with a gold smuggling case. The bail, with strict conditions of two sureties each and a bond of Rs. 2 lakh attached, was granted after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the legally prescribed time. The two have been barred from leaving the country.
Ranya’s earlier bail plea had been rejected on April 26 by the Bangalore high court. Before that, two bail pleas were rejected by the special court for economic offences and the sessions court.
Ranya will remain in custody despite the bail, as she is also facing proceedings under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA).
On March 3, Ranya had been arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore with 14.8 kgs. of gold allegedly smuggled from Dubai. It was revealed that Ranya had travelled alone to Dubai 34 times between 2023 and 2025.
Authorities valued the seized gold at Rs. 12.56 crore. A subsequent raid on her residence led to the seizure of gold jewellery valued at Rs. 2.06 crore, and Rs. 2.67 crore in cash.