Ranya Rao, two other accused sentenced to one-year jail in gold smuggling case

Kannada actor Ranya Rao has been sentenced to one year in jail in connection with a gold smuggling case, following an order passed by the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Advisory Board. The board’s decision also applies to two others, Tarun Kondaru Raju and Sahil Jain, along with Ranya Rao.

According to the directive, all three have been denied the right to apply for bail during the one-year duration of imprisonment. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) served the COFEPOSA order on Rao on May 23.

In response, her mother, Rohini, had filed a habeas corpus petition before the High Court of Karnataka. The COFEPOSA Advisory Board, acting under Section 8 of the Act, reviewed the case after authorities had issued the original detention order under COFEPOSA. The board examined the petition and verified the evidence and details provided in the COFEPOSA report.

The advisory board concluded that all legal procedures were followed and that there was sufficient evidence to justify Rao’s preventive detention.

Hearings in the matter will be held once every three months and will continue for up to one year.

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