Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru: A special court in Bengaluru on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Telugu actor Tarun Konduru Raju, who was arrested on March 10 in connection with the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao.
The Economic Offences Court ruled against granting bail to Raju, citing concerns raised by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) that he could attempt to flee the country if released. The agency also highlighted that Raju allegedly tried to leave India after Ranya Rao’s arrest, prompting authorities to issue a lookout circular against him.
Raju’s Alleged Role in the Smuggling Network
Investigators have accused Raju of playing a key role in facilitating the smuggling operation, particularly in managing the logistics of transporting and distributing gold within India.
Meanwhile, Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardhini Ranya, was caught red-handed on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Authorities seized 14.2 kg of foreign-origin gold bars from her possession, valued at ₹12.56 crore.
Gold, Cash Seized in Follow-Up Raid
Following her arrest, DRI officials raided her residence, leading to the recovery of:
✔ Gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore
✔ Cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Karnataka IPS officer DGP K Ramachandra Rao, who serves as the Managing Director of Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
Legal Proceedings Continue
With Tarun Raju’s bail plea denied, authorities are intensifying their probe into the larger gold smuggling network, suspecting the involvement of multiple high-profile individuals.
