Gold smuggling case: Ranya Rao, two accomplices to remain in jail for at least a year

Bengaluru: The three suspects, including Kannada actor Ranya Rao, in the infamous gold smuggling case, will remain in jail for at least a year under provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA).

The COFEPOSA advisory board under Section 8 of the Act has recommended that the provisions remain in place for Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru Raju alias Virat Konduru, and Sahil Sakariya Jain, a top Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) source has confirmed to DH on Thursday.

"This essentially means that Ranya and the other two suspects will remain in prison for at least a year, despite the lower court granting them bail," the well-placed source said. “The board came to the decision, keeping in mind the evidence against the suspects.”

Ranya, 33, was arrested on March 3 after she flew into Bengaluru from Dubai. According to the DRI, she was found carrying 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore on her person.

Raju, 36, a US citizen, was arrested by the DRI six days after Ranya was caught red-handed. Raju, as per the DRI, maintained close ties with Ranya and was her associate in the gold smuggling.

Jain, 27, the third suspect and the jeweller from Ballari in Karnataka, who allegedly helped Ranya dispose of the gold, shared the proceeds from the sale and helped in hawala transactions, was arrested on March 26.

On May 20, the Special Court for Economic Offences granted statutory bail to Ranya and Raju on executing a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh each, along with two sureties. A few days later, the court granted bail to Jain on similar grounds.

Despite this, they continue to remain at the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru, as, on April 22, the Central government invoked the stringent COFEPOSA Act against all three. The law provides for the detention of suspects for nearly a year without bail.

“The board will meet when required and decide on whether to continue with the provisions of the Act or not,” a DRI source told DH.

Earlier in May, Ranya’s mother, Rohini HP, moved the Karnataka High Court challenging her detention under the Act.