Bengaluru:
Kannada actor Ranya Rao, who was arrested for smuggling gold bar of Rs 14.56 crore in March, was granted bail by a special court on Tuesday.
The actor, however, will remain in jail as he is also booked under strict protection of foreign currency and prevention of smuggling activities, which allows preventive detention without bail for a year.
Special court granted bail to Ms. Rao for economic crimes – step daughter of Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ramchandra Rao – and another accused Tarun Kondru Raju said that it was noted that it was noted that the Revenue Intelligence Directorate (DRI) had failed to register a charge sheet in the case.
In addition to DRI, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.
Both the accused were also granted bail on the condition that they would present two bail and a bond of Rs 2 lakh. They have also been instructed not to leave the country.
Mr. Rao was caught smuggling gold bars weighing 14.2 kg, which was priced at Rs 14.56 crore, when he arrived from Dubai at Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru on 3 March.
The actor, who made his debut with the 2014 film Manikya, came under the radar of DRI officials after the fourth visit to Dubai in 15 days. It was earlier revealed that he had made 27 trips to Dubai in the last one year. Sources said that she wore some gold and hid the rest in her clothes to avoid being caught.
After arresting Ms. Rao, investigators raided her house and recovered gold jewelery worth more than Rs 2 crore and cash worth Rs 2.67 crore.
In a leaked statement, the actor gave details of his international visits in places such as the Middle East, Dubai and some western countries. He has admitted that 17 gold bars were found on him.
Mr. Rao has denied any participation in crime and said that he was “shocked and destroyed” by the news of his step -daughter being arrested on smuggling charges “.
In a statement on 5 March, the senior policeman said that there was no “black mark” on his career and he was not in touch with his step daughter as he married four months ago. She also said that she was unaware of her and her husband Jatin Hukkari’s business behavior.
