Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Admits to Using Hawala for Gold Purchase; Bail Hearing Adjourned
Ranya Rao Case: Kannada film actress Ranya Rao, arrested in a gold smuggling case, admitted in court to using hawala transactions to purchase gold. The court has concluded the hearing on her bail plea and reserved its judgment until March 27th.
Confirmation of Informal Financial Transactions
The government lawyer, Madhu Rao, argued on behalf of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) that the accused had admitted to conducting informal financial transactions. Based on this, the investigating agency believes this case involves a serious economic offense and that the accused's bail plea should be rejected.
Notice Issued Under Section 108
Authorities have issued a notice under Section 108 for a judicial inquiry into the matter. The DRI clarified that this action is not part of a police investigation but falls under the investigation of financial irregularities. This investigation aims to uncover any potential legal violations and the role of the hawala network in the gold smuggling operation.
Arrest at the Airport
According to reports, Ranya Rao was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport where gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were recovered. Subsequent searches of her residence yielded gold jewelry worth ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash.
Court Verdict on March 27th
All eyes are now on March 27th, when the court will decide whether to grant Ranya Rao bail. The possibility of a large smuggling network is also being investigated by the agencies.
