Gold smuggling case: Ranya Rao, Tarun Raju granted bail by Bengaluru court; unlikely to be released

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru court on Tuesday allowed the statutory bail applications moved by gold smuggling suspects Kannada actor Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju.

Vishwanath Channabasappa Gowdar, Presiding Officer, Special Court for Economic Offences, stated that the two were entitled to default bail on executing a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh each, along with two sureties.

The court further directed the two to appear before it on all dates of hearing without fail, not tamper with or hamper witnesses, cooperate with the investigation, not leave the country without prior permission from the court, and not commit similar offences in the future. “It is made clear that any violation of the conditions imposed by this court will result in the cancellation of bail,” the court observed.

Earlier in the month, Ranya and Raju moved the court for the statutory bail after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to submit a charge sheet within 60 days of initiating the probe.

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, was arrested by the DRI on March 9, 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. Both Ranya and Raju’s regular bail pleas were earlier rejected by the lower courts and the High Court.

Sahil Sakariya Jain, 27, the third suspect and the jeweller from Ballari, who allegedly helped Ranya dispose of 49 kg of gold worth Rs 40.13 crore and helped in hawala transactions, was arrested on March 26.

All three are currently lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru under judicial custody till June 2. Jain’s bail plea is currently being heard by CCH64 LXIII Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, and the next hearing is on May 23 after an earlier rejection by the Special Court for Economic Offences.

Ranya and Raju’s release is, however, unlikely since on April 22, the Centre invoked the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act against all three, including Ranya. The law provides for the detention of a suspect for nearly a year without bail.

Earlier in May, Ranya’s mother moved the Karnataka High Court challenging her detention under the COFEPOSA Act. The hearing was adjourned to June 3 as the court directed the Centre to file objections.