emirates7 - The Karnataka High Court on Saturday rejected the bail petitions of actress Ranya Rao and co-accused Tarun Raju in connection with a gold smuggling case.

The decision was delivered by a bench led by Justice Savanur Vishwajith Shetty.

Significantly, Ranya Rao is the step-daughter of a Director General of Police (DGP) who has been placed on compulsory leave.

Additionally, the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), has been invoked against Rao.

The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), operating under the Ministry of Finance, invoked the COFEPOSA Act against Rao and other accused based on a recommendation from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which is investigating the matter.

With COFEPOSA now applied, Rao will be ineligible for bail for a period of one year.

Authorities invoked the Act to prevent the accused from resuming smuggling activities upon release and due to concerns about their lack of cooperation with investigative agencies, according to sources.

Sources further indicated that the central agencies took this step after repeated attempts by Rao and other accused to secure bail.

The other accused, Tarun Raju and Sahil Sakaria Jain, have also been charged under the COFEPOSA Act.