DGP’s Stepdaughter & Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Gets 1-Year Jail in ₹12.5 Cr Gold Smuggling Case
Bengaluru, July 17 – In a sensational development, Kannada actress Ranya Rao, stepdaughter of senior police officer K. Ramachandra Rao, has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment under the COFEPOSA Act (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act) in connection with a major gold smuggling case.
On Wednesday, the Advisory Board issued the order denying her the right to bail throughout her sentence. According to a Times of India report, the board ruled that the nature of the case warrants preventive detention.
Default Bail Granted Earlier—But Detention Continues
Earlier, on May 20, a Bengaluru court had granted Ranya and her co-accused Tarun Raju default bail due to a procedural delay—since the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file the chargesheet on time. The bail was granted with strict conditions, including a ₹2 lakh bond and a ban on international travel and reoffending.
However, despite the bail, both accused remained in custody under the COFEPOSA provisions, which allow preventive detention for up to a year based on suspicion alone.
Caught with 14.2 Kg of Gold at Bengaluru Airport
The case dates back to March 3, 2025, when Ranya landed at Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai. She attempted to exit through the Green Channel, used by travelers with no goods to declare.
Suspicious behavior led DRI officials to stop her for questioning. Despite denying possession of any undeclared goods, her nervousness prompted a thorough search. Upon inspection, 14.2 kilograms of smuggled gold, worth around ₹12.56 crore, was recovered from various parts of her body.
Repeated Bail Pleas Rejected
Ranya’s multiple bail applications were previously denied by all levels of courts:
-
March 14 – Special Economic Offenses Court
-
March 27 – Sessions Court
-
April 26 – Karnataka High Court
Her most recent plea was also denied under the COFEPOSA Act, reinforcing the seriousness of the offense.
