Actor Ranya Rao charged under stringent anti-smuggling law, faces 1 year in jail
In March, anti-smuggling agency DRI told a court that the actor has confessed that money used for the purchase of gold was routed through hawala channels. The DRI's big claim of Ranya Rao's confession in the gold smuggling case came days after it alleged it had evidence of the actor and her friend Tarun Raju making 26 trips to Dubai, in which they would leave in the morning and return by the evening.Ranya Rao's bail plea has been rejected twice so far, once by a lower court, and another by the Special Court for Economic Offences. ABOUT RANYA RAO PROBERanya Rao was arrested on March 3 at the Bengaluru airport after a thorough personal search revealed gold bars wrapped around her waist and calves with bandages and tissues. Besides, additional gold bars and cut pieces were also found in her shoes and front pockets.advertisementThe gold recovered was 24 carats and weighed 14.2 kg, valued at more than Rs 12.56 crore, and Rao has been charged under the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.The Protocol Officer who assisted the actor had told investigating officers that he had done so under specific instructions from DGP Ramchandra Rao,Ranya's stepfather. Ramchandra Rao was recently sent on compulsory leave amid huge uproar over the gold smuggling case.
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