Actress Ranya Rao’s bail plea rejected in gold smuggling case

The Special Economic Offences Court has dismissed the bail application of actress Ranya Rao, who is currently in custody for her alleged involvement in a gold smuggling case. The court, presided over by Judge Vishwanath C. Gowder, ruled against granting her bail due to concerns over evidence tampering and the gravity of the charges. Meanwhile, the bail hearing for co-accused Tarun Kondur has been postponed to tomorrow.

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The prosecution opposed Ranya Rao’s bail, citing violations of customs baggage rules and the potential risk of interference with the ongoing investigation. Officials highlighted that she had undertaken 27 international trips within a year, facilitating customs duty fraud amounting to ₹4.82 crore. Furthermore, the discovery of her Dubai resident identity card raised suspicions regarding her involvement in a wider smuggling network.

The court found merit in the argument that granting bail could allow Rao to destroy critical evidence or influence key witnesses. Given the serious financial implications of the alleged fraud—estimated at 38% of the evaded customs duty—authorities stressed the need for her continued detention.

This development has sent shockwaves through the film industry, as Rao’s unexpected arrest has placed the spotlight on celebrity involvement in financial crimes. With Tarun Kondur’s bail plea scheduled for review tomorrow, investigators are closely monitoring the case, which could unveil further links to a broader smuggling racket.