Actress Ranya Rao Sentenced to 1-Year Jail Term: No Bail Granted

Ranya Rao Sentenced to 1-Year Jail Term: Kannada actress Ranya Rao has received a one-year jail sentence in connection with one of India’s high-profile gold smuggling cases, where gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore were seized. The ruling was given on Thursday by the Advisory Board under COFEPOSA (Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act).

Ranya was one of the alleged smugglers of gold upon her land arrival at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from Dubai in March this year. The officials from Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nabbed her with a recovery of 14.2 kg of gold concealed within her luggage, following which she was immediately arrested.

Under COFEPOSA Without Bail

Despite being granted bail in May because the DRI had not filed a chargesheet within the specified period legally. Ranya was still Under COFEPOSA provisions. This special Act allows preventive detention up to a year without trial against one who is suspected of being involved in smuggling activities.

This made a splash among the public, as COFEPOSA is rarely invoked against such known personalities in the entertainment world.

ED Attaches Property Worth ₹34 Crores

The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth over ₹34 crores belonging to Ranya Rao. In a parallel probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The list includes:

a luxury house in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru,

Also Read: Learnt gold smuggling from YouTube, Ranya Rao Reveals
a plot in Arkavathi Layout,
an industrial property in Tumkur,
agricultural land in Anekal taluk.

According to the Enforcement Directorate, Ranya was the mastermind behind what they describe as “well-structured” smuggling operations spanning international routes.

Legal and Career Dilemma

While her assets remain under investigation, there’s no freedom for Ranya Rao from Bollywood. Legal experts concur her otherwise good future in cinema may follow with trials as well as asset forfeiture.

The smuggling and money-laundering laws are tightening even around the celebrity social circles.