Supreme Court upholds detention of actor Ranya Rao, aide in gold smuggling case
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the preventive detention of Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya Rao and her alleged aide Sahil Jain in a gold smuggling case under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
According to Hindustan Times, a bench of justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh dismissed a petition filed by family members of the two accused, seeking their release. The petitioners had challenged a Karnataka high court order passed in December last year, which had upheld the detention orders issued by the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB).
The apex court ruled that there was sufficient material to justify the detention and noted a reasonable likelihood that the accused could engage in similar activities if released. It also held that there was no violation of Article 22 of the Constitution, which provides safeguards against unlawful detention.
Rejecting the petitioners’ claims, the court said the accused were not denied effective representation or access to documents. It held that there existed no absolute right to legal representation before an advisory board under preventive detention laws, and that “substantial compliance” with procedural requirements, such as showing electronic evidence like CCTV footage rather than physically handing over devices, as done in the present case, was sufficient.
“Having perused the grounds of detention, we find that adequate reasons have been recorded therein. The materials are also to the effect that there were prior occurrences of disposal of foreign marked-gold bars in India, and a live and proximate link qua the present incident also stands established insofar as the detenu - Shri Sahil Sarkariya Jain is concerned. Further, all the documents relied upon have been duly furnished to the detenus,” the Supreme Court said.
The case dates back to March 3, 2025, when Ranya Rao was caught at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, allegedly smuggling around 14 kg of gold bars from Dubai.
Jain is accused of having facilitated the disposal of consignments of foreign-marked gold bars on four different occasions between November 2024 and February 2025 along with Rao.
The Karnataka High Court had earlier upheld the CEIB’s April 22, 2025 detention order, finding no illegality in the preventive detention.
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Union Minister Sanjay Kumar's son booked under POCSO, files counter-complaint of extortion
Hyderabad (PTI): A case under POCSO Act was registered against Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar's son here following allegations of sexual harassment of a minor girl, a charge denied by the accused who alleged extortion and criminal intimidation by the teen and her parents.
According to the 17-year-old girl's mother, Sanjay Kumar's son Bhageerath, who was in a relationship with her daughter, sexually harassed her.
The alleged relationship began about seven-eight months ago, police said.
They are yet to examine the girl, who is a student.
Meanwhile, Bhageerath complained to the police in Karimnagar that the girl who got acquainted to him, invited him to her family functions and group gatherings.
An FIR was registered based on the complaint.
Bhageerath said in the complaint that, believing the girl's family to be trustworthy, he accompanied them and visited some holy places, as part of a friends group.
Subsequently, the girl and her parents intimidated him to marry her, but he rejected the proposal, following which the girl's parents demanded money and also threatened him with false complaints if he failed to pay the amount.
Out of fear, he paid Rs 50,000 to the girl's father, but they demanded Rs five crore. If he failed to comply, the girl's mother would commit suicide, Bhageerath alleged in his complaint.
