The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a plea challenging the detention of Kannada actress Ranya Rao under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA) in connection with the gold smuggling case registered against her in March this year.
A Bench of Justices Anu Sivaraman and Vijaykumar A Patil delivered the verdict on a plea filed by Rao's mother, HP Rohini, who challenged the validity of her daughter's detention under the COFEPOSA.
On March 3, 2025, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Ranya Rao at the Bengaluru International Airport and allegedly seized 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.86 crores from her. It is claimed that she used to carry gold in her belt and jacket to evade inspection by the customs officials.
Ranya was accused of using the airport exit route reserved for VVIPs.
DRI officials, who searched her house, were also said to have seized jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and cash worth ₹2.67 crore. This took the total seizure in the case to ₹17.29 crore.
The case drew significant media attention with reports highlighting Rao's frequent travels to Dubai and alleged misuse of VIP airport exits.
In May, a special court trying economic offences in Karnataka granted default bail to Rao, since the DRI failed to file a chargesheet within the statutory timeline of 60 days.
However, despite the grant of default bail, Rao remained in jail since she was also booked under the COFEPOSA, a preventive detention law meant to deter smuggling.