<p>Bengaluru: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday informed the Karnataka High Court that forensic analysis of phone/laptops of Ranya Rao, arrested in the gold smuggling case, has established the links between the other two accused, Tarun Konduru Raju (accused number 2), a US citizen, and Sahil Sakariya Jai (accused no 3), a Ballari-based jewel merchant. </p><p>The DRI has further sought time to place on record certain material in a sealed cover with new revelations that came up during the investigation. </p>.Karnataka HC to hear Ranya Rao bail plea on April 21.<p>Justice S Vishwajith Shetty adjourned the hearing to Tuesday on the bail petitions filed by Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju.</p><p>During the hearing, it was submitted on behalf of the DRI that on 25 occasions, Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju travelled to Dubai and returned to Bengaluru on the same day. It was further stated that the mechanism followed is that Tarun would hand over the gold to Ranya in Dubai. Although a ticket to Geneva is booked for Tarun, both return to Bengaluru. “The investigation revealed that credit cards were used for making the payments. Once she (Ranya) got married, the payment mechanism changed. The cash was put into the account of Tarun Raju and from that amount he used to travel. Accused number 3 Sahil Jain used to be the person who would receive gold (from Ranya) and liquidate,” the advocate for DRI said.</p><p>Earlier, the counsel for Ranya Rao submitted that the contention of DRI being a "flight risk" does not hold much substance. He said that Ranya Rao has travelled to 30 countries and she is a golden visa holder and holds a residence permit since she has a company in Dubai. The advocate further said that the petitioner is the first-time offender. On being provided escort at the airport, the advocate said it was because her step father Ramachandra Rao is a DGP.</p>.Ranya gold smuggling case: Karnataka govt orders actress' stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, to go on compulsory leave.<p>At this point, the court intervened and pointed out that some other name was shown (Kabbinahalli Sidde Gowda) as father’s name in the remand application and subsequent bail application filed before the trial court. The counsel responded to this saying that Ramachandra Rao happens to be her stepfather. The court orally observed that escort is not provided even to the relatives and expressed surprise as to how the escort was provided to Ranya.</p><p>On the other hand, the advocate for Tarun submitted that since Dubai permits anyone to purchase gold, even if the same gold is seized, he cannot be held responsible for Ranya not paying the customs duty.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Monday informed the Karnataka High Court that forensic analysis of phone/laptops of Ranya Rao, arrested in the gold smuggling case, has established the links between the other two accused, Tarun Konduru Raju (accused number 2), a US citizen, and Sahil Sakariya Jai (accused no 3), a Ballari-based jewel merchant. </p><p>The DRI has further sought time to place on record certain material in a sealed cover with new revelations that came up during the investigation. </p>.Karnataka HC to hear Ranya Rao bail plea on April 21.<p>Justice S Vishwajith Shetty adjourned the hearing to Tuesday on the bail petitions filed by Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju.</p><p>During the hearing, it was submitted on behalf of the DRI that on 25 occasions, Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju travelled to Dubai and returned to Bengaluru on the same day. It was further stated that the mechanism followed is that Tarun would hand over the gold to Ranya in Dubai. Although a ticket to Geneva is booked for Tarun, both return to Bengaluru. “The investigation revealed that credit cards were used for making the payments. Once she (Ranya) got married, the payment mechanism changed. The cash was put into the account of Tarun Raju and from that amount he used to travel. Accused number 3 Sahil Jain used to be the person who would receive gold (from Ranya) and liquidate,” the advocate for DRI said.</p><p>Earlier, the counsel for Ranya Rao submitted that the contention of DRI being a "flight risk" does not hold much substance. He said that Ranya Rao has travelled to 30 countries and she is a golden visa holder and holds a residence permit since she has a company in Dubai. The advocate further said that the petitioner is the first-time offender. On being provided escort at the airport, the advocate said it was because her step father Ramachandra Rao is a DGP.</p>.Ranya gold smuggling case: Karnataka govt orders actress' stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, to go on compulsory leave.<p>At this point, the court intervened and pointed out that some other name was shown (Kabbinahalli Sidde Gowda) as father’s name in the remand application and subsequent bail application filed before the trial court. The counsel responded to this saying that Ramachandra Rao happens to be her stepfather. The court orally observed that escort is not provided even to the relatives and expressed surprise as to how the escort was provided to Ranya.</p><p>On the other hand, the advocate for Tarun submitted that since Dubai permits anyone to purchase gold, even if the same gold is seized, he cannot be held responsible for Ranya not paying the customs duty.</p>