The Special Court for Economic Offenses on Wednesday sent Sahil Jain, the third accused in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, to 14 days of judicial custody. Jain was presented to the court after his custody period ended, according to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).
On Tuesday, actor Ranya Rao filed for bail in the Karnataka High Court after her earlier plea was rejected by a Bengaluru sessions court. Her lawyer, BS Girish, submitted the petition, which will be heard by the High Court next week.
Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Officials from the DRI found her in possession of gold. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later filed an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, the Additional Director of DRI. The FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, alongside multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
Also read: Actress Ranya Rao moves bail petition in Karnataka HC
According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested on March 6 at Mumbai Airport. They were caught attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India, valued at ₹18.92 crore. This was after Ranya Rao’s arrest on March 3. The investigation has raised suspicions of a possible smuggling syndicate operating out of Dubai, with links to the cases involving both Rao and the foreign nationals.
Gupta’s complaint suggests that the frequent travel patterns of Rao and the foreign nationals to and from Dubai might indicate coordination with a larger smuggling network. Furthermore, he has raised concerns about the potential involvement of public servants and others in facilitating the smuggling activities.
The FIR also highlights that passengers arriving from Dubai have been repeatedly involved in large-scale gold smuggling attempts. The authorities suspect that this could be part of a broader and more organised operation. The ongoing investigation will attempt to uncover the full extent of the smuggling ring and its connections.
Ranya Rao’s case has attracted considerable attention, with further developments expected as her bail petition is considered by the High Court next week.
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