Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Karnataka HC stays ED provisional attachment of actress' properties

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court has stayed until the next date of hearing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisional attachment order relating to the properties of actress Harshavardini Ranya Rao. The actress is presently in judicial custody under the provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) in connection with a gold smuggling case.

The petitioner has challenged the July 4, 2025, provisional attachment order under section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Act and further proceedings. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that the predicate offence mentioned in the provisional attachment is of the year 2025, and hence the properties acquired by the petitioner prior to the trial of the scheduled offences cannot form the subject matter of the attachment.

The advocate cited the Apex Court judgement in the Pavana Dibbur vs ED case wherein it was held that properties acquired prior to the commission of the scheduled offence cannot be included in a provisional attachment.

“Prima facie, this court finds that the impugned attachment, insofar as it covers properties acquired before the commission of the alleged predicate offence, is without jurisdiction. The matter, therefore, requires consideration in the light of the law laid down by the Supreme Court in the Pavana Dibbur case. Accordingly, the provisional attachment order dated July 4, 2025, issued by the ED against the petitioner, is stayed until the next date of hearing," Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum said while ordering notice to the ED.

On credible information, the Directorate of Revenue intelligence (DRI) officials had intercepted Ranya Rao on March 3, 2025 at the Kempegowda International airport. The authorities had recovered gold weighing 14213.05 grams valued at Rs 12,56,43,362, found to be wrapped around her waist, calf muscles with the help of crepe bandage and tissues. The DRI case is that Ranya and other accused had traveled to Dubai and came back together 34 times since 2023.