Bengaluru: Kannada film actor Ranya Rao, who was accused in a large-scale gold smuggling case is expected to be released from custody this week, following the completion of a one-year preventive detention period under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (Cofeposa) Act.

Officials familiar with the investigation confirmed that the detention term has now come to an end.

Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardhini Ranya, was arrested in March 2025 and subsequently placed under preventive detention on 22 April that year.

With the one-year period now completed, enforcement authorities are not permitted to continue her custody under the same legal provisions, officials stated.

An officer indicated that her release could take place later in the day or by Thursday, after her legal representatives completed the necessary surety formalities linked to the regular bail granted earlier. The officer added that although she had secured bail months ago, she remained in custody due to the Cofeposa detention order.

Allegations of high-value gold smuggling

Rao, who is also the stepdaughter of Karnataka IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, has been accused of involvement in a gold smuggling network valued at over ₹102 crore.

Investigators have alleged that more than 100 kilograms of gold was smuggled from Dubai to Bengaluru between 2024 and 2025.

Officials associated with the case further indicated that the operation may have involved over 127 kilograms of gold being brought into India over the course of a year. The smuggled gold was allegedly channelled into the domestic market through intermediaries, including handlers and jewellers.

The case has been investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which has described the network as one of the more significant smuggling operations uncovered in recent years.

According to investigators, the syndicate functioned through multiple carriers and followed a structured distribution system to transport gold across international borders and circulate it within local markets.

Co-accused and legal developments

Rao and another accused, identified as Sahil Jain, were detained under Cofeposa provisions in April last year for their alleged involvement in facilitating the operation.

Officials said that two additional associates are also expected to be released alongside her after completing their respective detention periods.

The preventive detention orders were challenged in court but were subsequently upheld by higher judicial authorities, including the Supreme Court of India.

The court declined to interfere, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the scale of the suspected smuggling activities.

With agency inputs