BENGALURU, 17 JULY

Kannada film actress Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) in connection with a major gold smuggling case.

The Advisory Board overseeing COFEPOSA matters ruled that Rao will not be granted bail for the entire duration of her preventive detention. This comes despite her being previously granted default bail on 20 May by a city court, along with co-accused Tarun Raju, after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated timeframe.

The court had set bail at Rs 2 lakh with surety conditions. However, both Rao and Raju remained in custody due to the COFEPOSA order, which permits preventive detention for up to a year without formal charges if smuggling is suspected.

The case dates back to March, when Rao arrived from Dubai and attempted to use the green channel at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru a route reserved for passengers with no dutiable goods. Her anxious demeanour prompted DRI officials to conduct a detailed search by female officers, leading to the discovery of 14.2 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 12.56 crore.

Her bail pleas were previously rejected twice by local courts and subsequently by the Karnataka High Court.