Gold Smuggling Case | 'Search & Seizure By Revenue Officials Violated Customs Act': Actress Ranya Rao Tells Karnataka HC In Bail Plea

Kannada Actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao, who has been arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, while seeking bail contended before the Karnataka High Court on Thursday (April 17) that the search and seizure carried on her by the Directorate Of Revenue Officials was in violation of the provisions of the Customs Act.

Senior Advocate Sandesh J Chouta appearing for Rao while seeking bail contended before Justice S Vishwajith Shetty that “Section 102 of the Customs Act, compliance is not done. If it is violated then the entire seizure goes and everything else goes.”

Section 102 provides that persons to be searched may require to be taken before a gazetted officer of customs or magistrate.

Chouta pointed to discrepancies in the mahazar and the notices issued to Rao before searching and seeking her consent and said, “SIO who searched me and lead the arrest team is shown as a gazetted officer.”

Further he contended that grounds of arrest as mandated to be informed to the family members in writing were not followed. He submitted that “They called my husband and informed about the grounds of arrest. Thus it was done telephonically and not in writing as is mandated.”

To press his contention he relied on two Supreme Court judgments in the case of VIHAAN KUMAR Versus THE STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR, and Radhika Agarwal v. Union of India and Ors.

The court orally asked counsel whether signatures on the notices issued to Rao were disputed. The counsel replied in the negative.

Chouta also informed the court that normally for offences under the Customs Act, bail is granted by Magistrate courts because the offence is punishable less than 7 years, compoundable. Further, the petitioner is a lady and has been in custody for over 45 days.

The court has now posted the bail petition filed by Rao and co-accused Tarun Konduru Raju, for further hearing on April 21. It has also directed the respondents to by then file their objections to the petition.

Gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. A subsequent search of her home had yielded gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore. She has been charged for the offence u/s 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(b), 135 (1)(a)(i)(a) 135(1)(a)(i)(b), 135(1)(b)(i)(a), 135(1)(b)(i)(b) of the Customs Act. Sec.104(4)(a), 104(4)(b), 104(6)(a) and 104(6)(c) of the Act.

Case Title: Harshavardini Ranya Rao AND Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Case No: Criminal Petition 5047/2025 c/w Criminal Petition 5432/2025