Regarding actor Ranya Rao, what laws govern the importation of gold into India?

Ranya Rao, a Kannada actor, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly smuggling over 14 kg of gold on a flight from Dubai to Bengaluru. His bail request was denied by the Special Court of Economic Offences in Bengaluru on Friday, March 14.

"One of the greatest recoveries of gold at Bengaluru airport in recent times," Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials said.

The DRI is investigating whether this was an isolated incident or part of a series of gold-smuggling expeditions because Rao frequently travelled to Dubai. The case has also raised questions about possible police involvement because Rao would be escorted home from the airport by local authorities following her multiple trips to Dubai.

Indian regulations prohibiting the smuggling of gold

Up until its repeal in 1990, the Gold (Control) Act, 1968, placed strict restrictions on the acquisition, ownership, and disposal of gold in India and limited its importation. However, the government reversed course and imposed an import tax of Rs 250 per 10 kilograms of gold in the 1990s after economic liberalization, which led to a sharp increase in gold imports in the years that followed.

Gold imports are currently heavily regulated by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Customs Act of 1962. Customs charges on gold can vary depending on how much a passenger is carrying and how long they are abroad before coming back to India, according to the Baggage

The customs fee is 3% for women carrying 40–100 grams of gold and 3% for men carrying 20–50 grams. There is a 6% customs fee for women carrying 100–200 grams and men carrying 50–100 grams. Men carrying more than 100 grams and women carrying more than 200 grams are subject to a 10% customs tax.

In 2003, the Supreme Court declared that any imported product that does not adhere to the relevant regulations or restrictions must be considered a "prohibited good." Such goods may be confiscated under Section 111 of the Customs Act and may face fines under Section 112. The penalty may include a fine equivalent to the item's value. if the illegally obtained goods have a market value greater than Rs. 1 lakh.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023's Section 111 (Organised Crime), which penalizes "trading in...illicit products," also makes smuggling a crime that carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison, with the possibility of an extension to life in prison. The UAPA also punishes smuggling as a "terrorist act" under Section 15 if it causes "damage to the monetary stability of India."

Ranya Rao's arrest

In a statement issued on March 5, the DRI stated, "Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officers intercepted an Indian lady traveller, aged approximately 33, who had come from Dubai to Bengaluru by Emirates flight on March 3, 2025." Investigation revealed that 14.2 kg of gold bars had been deftly concealed on (her) person. The DRI claims that Rao made 27 trips to Dubai in a six month period.

After searching Rao's house, the DRI reported that "the search led in the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian money equivalent to Rs 2.67 crore," bringing the case's total seizure value to Rs 17.29 crore.

Rao always took the VIP routes out of the Bengaluru airport. A protocol official would accompany her to the exit, where she would be met by local police and taken home, avoiding the drawn-out checks that regular passengers had to undergo. The Indian Express claims that Rao's stepfather, a senior IPS officer and DGP, was involved in the theft of a gold shipment from Kerala to Karnataka over a decade ago. He was later transferred even though no official action was taken against him.