Actor Tarun Raju’s bail application will be heard today after his arrest by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with a gold smuggling case involving actress Ranya Rao. The hearing for Raju’s bail plea will take place in the CCH 64th court on Wednesday, with Advocate Bipin Hegde representing the Telugu actor.
Advocate Madhu Rao will represent DRI in the case. Another accused, Sahil Jain, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the case, will also be presented before the Economic Offences Court today. Jain has been in judicial custody since his arrest.
Meanwhile, actress Ranya Rao approached the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday for bail, following the rejection of her plea by a Bengaluru Sessions Court earlier. Rao’s lawyer, BS Girish, filed the petition, which the High Court will hear next week.
Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempe Gowda International Airport after DRI officials found her in possession of gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The FIR is registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988 and several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
The complaint details how two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold worth Rs. 18.92 crore into India. This incident followed Rao’s arrest, linking her to the larger gold smuggling operation.
