The Karnataka High Court on Saturday dismissed bail applications filed by Kannada actress Ranya Rao and Telugu actor/ businessman Tarun Konduru Raju in the gold smuggling case filed against them last month. .Justice S Vishawajit Shetty pronounced the order this morning. .A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited. .On March 3, 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 the gold in her belt and jacket to evade inspection by the customs officials.Ranya is accused of using the airport exit route reserved for VVIPs.DRI officials, who searched her house, are 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 an alleged misuse of VIP airport exits.After she and co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju were denied bail by lower courts, they moved the High Court for relief. .Senior Advocate Sandesh J Chouta represented Ranya Rao during bail hearings before the High Court.Among other grounds, he argued that courts have taken the view that women should be given some lenient consideration when it comes to the grant of bail. In this regard, he also cited the Karnataka High Court's order in the Bhavani Revanna case.He added that Rao's frequent visits to Dubai can be explained as even the DRI has acknowledged that she has a firm over there. He added that she also has family members in Dubai.Any concerns about Rao being a flight risk could also be addressed by imposing suitable bail conditions such as the surrender of her passport, Chouta said.He added that Rao would continue to cooperate with the investigation, while urging the Court to grant her bail.The Court, in turn, had posed certain questions as to how Rao was able to use VIP routes and get a police escort at the airport. One of the allegations against her was that she had misused VIP routes to smuggle gold without having to go through customs checks, as she was the step-daughter of K Ramachandra Rao, a Director General of Police (DGP) rank police officer.The DRI's counsel alleged that according to a statement given to the investigation officers, Rao used to call a protocol officer for the VIP escort when she came to airport.The DRI's counsel requested the Court to reject the bail applications as the matter was still being investigated, and as new revelations had emerged which required a further probe.Tarun Konduru Raju's counsel, meanwhile, maintained that his client had been unnecessarily implicated in this case."Anyone can buy gold in Dubai, I don't know why I am being implicated ... If I take the statement of DRI at face value, that I gave her gold in Dubai, she made the declarations - they say "it appears" - it is not my statement. Only allegation is I travelled to Dubai and gave her gold, and she did not pay customs duty," he said.The DRI's counsel, however, maintained that there were serious allegations against him as well while opposing any grant of bail.
The Karnataka High Court on Saturday dismissed bail applications filed by Kannada actress Ranya Rao and Telugu actor/ businessman Tarun Konduru Raju in the gold smuggling case filed against them last month. .Justice S Vishawajit Shetty pronounced the order this morning. .A detailed copy of the judgment is awaited. .On March 3, 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 the gold in her belt and jacket to evade inspection by the customs officials.Ranya is accused of using the airport exit route reserved for VVIPs.DRI officials, who searched her house, are 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 an alleged misuse of VIP airport exits.After she and co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju were denied bail by lower courts, they moved the High Court for relief. .Senior Advocate Sandesh J Chouta represented Ranya Rao during bail hearings before the High Court.Among other grounds, he argued that courts have taken the view that women should be given some lenient consideration when it comes to the grant of bail. In this regard, he also cited the Karnataka High Court's order in the Bhavani Revanna case.He added that Rao's frequent visits to Dubai can be explained as even the DRI has acknowledged that she has a firm over there. He added that she also has family members in Dubai.Any concerns about Rao being a flight risk could also be addressed by imposing suitable bail conditions such as the surrender of her passport, Chouta said.He added that Rao would continue to cooperate with the investigation, while urging the Court to grant her bail.The Court, in turn, had posed certain questions as to how Rao was able to use VIP routes and get a police escort at the airport. One of the allegations against her was that she had misused VIP routes to smuggle gold without having to go through customs checks, as she was the step-daughter of K Ramachandra Rao, a Director General of Police (DGP) rank police officer.The DRI's counsel alleged that according to a statement given to the investigation officers, Rao used to call a protocol officer for the VIP escort when she came to airport.The DRI's counsel requested the Court to reject the bail applications as the matter was still being investigated, and as new revelations had emerged which required a further probe.Tarun Konduru Raju's counsel, meanwhile, maintained that his client had been unnecessarily implicated in this case."Anyone can buy gold in Dubai, I don't know why I am being implicated ... If I take the statement of DRI at face value, that I gave her gold in Dubai, she made the declarations - they say "it appears" - it is not my statement. Only allegation is I travelled to Dubai and gave her gold, and she did not pay customs duty," he said.The DRI's counsel, however, maintained that there were serious allegations against him as well while opposing any grant of bail.
