Bengaluru, 22 April

The State High Court on Tuesday reserved its decision on the bail applications filed by Kannada actress Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju in connection with a gold smuggling case.

The case stems from a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) operation at Kempegowda international airport on 3 March, during which gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore were seized from Ranya Rao.

Both Rao and Raju are facing serious charges under multiple sections of the Customs Act.

Senior Advocate Sandesh Chouta, representing Rao, argued that the DRI did not follow proper procedures during the search and seizure.

He pointed to non-compliance with Section 102 of the Customs Act, which mandates that a person being searched has the right to be taken before a magistrate or a senior customs officer.

The counsel also highlighted irregularities in the search documents and claimed that the officer who conducted the search and made the arrest falsely claimed to be a gazetted officer.

Chouta further alleged that Rao’s family wasn’t properly informed about her arrest.

He also noted that since the alleged offence is compoundable and punishable with less than seven years in prison, it is common for bail to be granted.

He requested leniency on grounds that Rao is a woman.

Raju’s lawyer argued that his client is being wrongly implicated just because of his business association with Rao.