Actor Ranya Rao, arrested last month in connection with a gold smuggling case, has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking bail, days after her request was denied by a sessions court. The High Court is expected to hear the plea either this week or next.

Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 and is currently in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The sessions court denied her bail on March 27.

Rao, the stepdaughter of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ramachandra Rao, was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru while attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs 14.56 crore, which she had brought from Dubai.

The actress, known for her debut in the 2014 film Maanikya, had attracted the attention of DRI officials after making her fourth trip to Dubai in just 15 days. During the sessions court hearing, the prosecution revealed that Rao admitted to using hawala channels to purchase the smuggled gold. The authorities have also issued a notice for a judicial investigation into her financial activities.

Tarun Raj, a close associate of Rao, is the second accused in the case. Authorities allege that Rao disposed of the gold through a merchant named Sahil Jain, who was arrested last month, bringing the total number of arrests to three.

DRI lawyer Madhu Rao stated that Rao and Raj had traveled to Dubai together at least 26 times, often making the trips in a single day. Sources indicate that the actor used to wear some of the gold and hide the rest in her clothing to avoid detection.

Following Rao’s arrest, investigators conducted a raid at her residence, recovering gold jewelry valued at over Rs 2 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

Rao’s stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, has denied any involvement in the incident, expressing his shock and devastation at his stepdaughter’s arrest. In a statement, the senior officer emphasized that there has been no tarnish to his career and that he had lost contact with Rao since her marriage four months ago. He further clarified that he had no knowledge of her or her husband Jatin Hukkeri’s business activities.