Gold and Glamour: Ranya Rao's Year in Custody

Kannada actress Ranya Rao, arrested for gold smuggling, is set for release after a year in Bengaluru Central Jail. Intercepted carrying gold bars worth crores, her detention under COFEPOSA expired, clearing her release. The case drew attention due to her connections to a suspended police officer.

Kannada film actress Ranya Rao is set to be released from Bengaluru Central Jail after spending a year in custody on charges of gold smuggling, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sources confirmed on Wednesday.

Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardhini Ranya, was intercepted by DRI officials at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on March 2, 2025. The stepdaughter of a suspended DGP rank police officer, Rao, had allegedly made 27 trips to Dubai within just two months. During her arrest, officials seized 14.213 kg of smuggled gold bars from her, along with cash and jewellery worth over Rs 2 crore.

Though she was previously granted bail by a special court for economic offences, her release was prevented by the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). However, a source in the DRI stated that her one-year preventive detention under COFEPOSA expired on April 22, paving the way for her release.