Actress Ranya Rao gets bail after one year in ₹102 crore gold smuggling case
Bengaluru : In a significant development in the high-profile gold smuggling case, Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been granted bail by a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru. The court issued the order on Wednesday, bringing major relief to the actress, who has spent nearly a year in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
Ranya Rao was arrested in March 2025 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on charges of smuggling gold worth over ₹102 crore. Following her arrest at the Kempegowda International Airport, she was remanded to judicial custody. Officials had allegedly recovered 14.213 kilograms of gold from her possession during a detailed inspection after she arrived from Dubai.
Although she had earlier secured bail from a court, her release was delayed due to detention under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act. The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) had invoked Section 3(1) of the Act, leading to her continued incarceration for a year.
Recent legal developments, however, paved the way for her release. The Supreme Court had upheld aspects related to the detention order, but with the completion of the statutory detention period, the court has now allowed her bail. She is expected to walk out of prison later today after completing formalities.
Investigations had revealed that Ranya Rao, who had taken a break from films, was allegedly involved in business activities that required frequent international travel, particularly to Dubai. Her repeated visits had reportedly raised suspicion among customs officials, who began monitoring her movements closely.
On March 3, 2025, upon her arrival in Bengaluru, DRI officials conducted a search and discovered a large quantity of smuggled gold. The case subsequently drew national attention, with multiple angles, including alleged international links and financial networks, coming under scrutiny.
Ranya Rao is also reported to be the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer, adding further prominence to the case. Authorities had earlier indicated that investigations were ongoing to uncover the broader network behind the smuggling operation.
With the court granting bail after a year-long detention, the case now enters a new phase, even as legal proceedings and further investigation continue.
