Ranya Rao gets default bail in gold smuggling case but will remain in jail

A special court trying economic offences in Karnataka on Tuesday granted default bail to Kannada actress Ranya Rao and Telugu actor/ businessman Tarun Konduru Raju in the gold smuggling case filed against them in March this year..Special Judge Vishwanath Channabasappa Gowdar passed the order granting default bail since the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which is probing the case, failed to file a chargesheet within the statutory timeline of 60 days. However, despite the grant of default bail, Rao and Raju will continue to remain in jail since they have also been booked under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), which is a preventive detention law meant to deter smuggling. .According to the order passed today, both Rao and Konduru Raju were granted default bail subject to the execution of a ₹2 lakh personal bond with two sureties. The two accused were also ordered to regularly attend trial court hearings without fail. Further, the Court ordered them not to tamper with evidence or prosecution witnesses and to cooperate with the investigation against them. They have also been restrained from leaving India without the court's prior permission. Moreover, if they commit any similar offence while out on bail, or violate any of the other bail conditions imposed on them by the court today, their default bail would be cancelled. The special court posted the matter for further consideration on June 2 to examine whether its order passed today has been complied with. .On March 3, the 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 alleged misuse of VIP airport exits.Tarun Konduru Raju is also accused in the same case..Both were earlier denied regular bail by both the trial court as well as the Karnataka High Court. A plea filed by Rao's mother challenging the actress' detention under the COFEPOSA is pending before the High Court.