Gold Smuggling Case: Actress Ranya Rao granted conditional bail

 In a significant development in the high-profile gold smuggling case, the Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru has granted conditional bail to Sandalwood actress Ranya Rao, who was earlier arrested in connection with the illegal import of gold from Dubai.

The court has also extended bail to the second accused in the case, Tarun Kondaraju, citing procedural lapses by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). According to legal sources, DRI officials failed to file a chargesheet within the mandatory 60-day window, prompting the accused to move bail applications.

 Ranya and Tarun were granted bail against a bond of ₹2 lakh each and required to provide two sureties. The court has explicitly directed the accused not to participate in similar criminal activities or leave the country without permission. Ranya Rao was represented by advocate Girish, who argued that the delay in the filing of charges weakened the prosecution's stance.

 Ranya Rao had been arrested earlier this year for her alleged role in smuggling 14 kilograms of gold worth ₹12 crore from Dubai to Bengaluru. This dramatic case had made headlines due to the involvement of a public figure from the Kannada film industry.

Both the High Court and Magistrate Court had previously rejected her bail plea, citing the gravity of the offence and her suspected involvement in an international smuggling ring.

With this conditional bail, the legal spotlight remains on the prosecution’s next move, as they are expected to file the chargesheet imminently to prevent the case from further weakening.