Kannada actress Ranya Rao's bail plea rejected in gold smuggling case

Kannada actress Ranya Rao who was arrested earlier this month in connection with a gold smuggling case, has had her bail application rejected by a special court in Bengaluru. The decision was made on Friday, March 14, 2025, due to the seriousness of the charges against her.
On March 3rd, Ranya Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru airport with gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore. Subsequent searches at her properties uncovered additional gold jewelry valued at Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation into the case, which involves Rao and her alleged connections to international smuggling networks.
As per an India Today report, Rao claimed during questioning that she received instructions from unknown numbers to smuggle the gold. She admitted to learning how to conceal gold by watching YouTube videos and stated that this was her first smuggling attempt. The gold was allegedly handed over to her at Dubai Airport by a tall man in a gown. She reportedly earned Rs 1 lakh per kilogram of gold smuggled, amounting to Rs 1213 lakh per trip.

Rao's husband, Jatin Hukkeri, has also come under scrutiny. He booked round-trip tickets to Dubai using his credit card, raising suspicions about his involvement. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) searched nine locations in Bengaluru linked to Hukkeri, who obtained an interim order from the Karnataka High Court to prevent his arrest.
Tarun Konduru, another accused in the case, has filed a bail application, which is set to be heard on March 15, 2025. Konduru is suspected of playing a key role in the smuggling operation, with ties to international networks.

The ED has conducted raids in Karnataka as part of the investigation, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is scrutinizing footage from Ranya's recent wedding, guest lists, and expensive gifts to uncover potential connections to the smuggling operation.