Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Released After 1-Year Detention Under COFEPOSA Act in Gold Smuggling Case Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao was released from Central Prison in Mysuru on April 22 after serving a one-year detention under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act. The detention was linked to a gold smuggling case, marking the end of her prolonged legal ordeal. Ranya Rao was initially granted bail by a Special Court in May 2025 for alleged involvement in gold smuggling. However, the bail order could not be enforced due to the ongoing detention under the COFEPOSA Act. The detention order was issued while she was in judicial custody following her arrest by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on charges of smuggling gold. The case was filed under sections 135(1)(a), 135(1)(b), and other subsections of the Customs Act, which pertain to smuggling offenses. The DRI had seized gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore from Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3, 2025. A subsequent search of her residence uncovered additional gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency totaling ₹2.67 crore. These assets were part of the evidence presented in the case. On April 17, two sureties appeared before Special Court Judge Vishwanath Goudar and submitted affidavits along with property documents. The court reviewed records from the Revenue Tribunal (RTC), mutation registers, and Aadhaar cards. After questioning the sureties, the court expressed satisfaction with the provided guarantees and instructed jail authorities to release Ranya Rao if she was not required in any other pending cases. The case will be revisited on May 16 for further proceedings.#ranya_rao #kannada_actress #central_prison_mysuru #directorates_revenue_intelligence #cofeposa_act
Supreme Court Upholds COFEPOSA Detention Of Kannada Actress Ranya Rao In Gold Smuggling Case The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed challenges to the preventive detention orders issued under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) against Kannada actress Ranya Rao, alias Harshavardhini Ranya, and her aide Sahil Sarkariya Jain. The Court upheld the detention of both individuals, who were accused of facilitating gold smuggling into India. The decision was delivered by a Bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, who rejected the Special Leave Petitions filed by the detenus and their legal representatives. The case centers on allegations that Ranya Rao and Jain were involved in smuggling foreign-marked gold bars into the country. According to the authorities, intelligence inputs led to the interception of Ranya Rao on March 3, 2025, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. During a search at the Green Channel of the International Customs Arrival Hall, officials recovered 17 gold bars weighing approximately 14.2 kilograms. Subsequent investigations under Section 108 of the Customs Act revealed that Jain had allegedly facilitated the disposal of foreign-marked gold consignments on four occasions between November 14, 2024, and February 14, 2025. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) issued preventive detention orders against both individuals on April 22, 2025, invoking Section 3(1) of the COFEPOSA Act. The orders cited their alleged involvement in organized gold smuggling activities, with the authorities emphasizing prior instances of gold bar disposal.#supreme_court #ranya_rao #sahil_sarkariya_jain #directorates_of_revenue_intelligence #kempegowda_international_airport
