The Karnataka High Court has been informed that the Advisory Board has upheld the preventive detention of Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
A division bench comprising Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice Dr. K. Manmadha Rao was told by the petitioner’s counsel that the Advisory Board confirmed the detention order issued by the competent authority against the actress.
“We are only concerned with whether the detention is justified or not,” the bench clarified.
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Following this update, the Court directed the respondents to submit their objections to the memo filed by the petitioner. The bench also stated that the case is limited to examining the validity of the detention, and accordingly, the matter was scheduled for further hearing on August 28.
The hearing pertains to a petition filed by the actress’s mother, challenging the legality of the COFEPOSA detention order. The petition seeks a declaration that the detention is illegal and void from the beginning.
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Ranya Rao was already in judicial custody when the detention order was issued. She had been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in a gold smuggling case and was charged under multiple sections of the Customs Act, including:
Her bail application was previously rejected by the court on April 26.
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The arrest came after the DRI seized gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore from her at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, on March 3. A follow-up search of her residence led to the discovery of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore.
According to the petition, the authorities failed to furnish the grounds of detention and relevant documents to Ranya Rao as required by the law and the Constitution of India.
“The order of detention is not only erroneous but also illegal,” the plea states.
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It further claims that there has been non-application of mind on part of the authorities while issuing the order.
“There is no specific ground under Section 3(1) of the COFEPOSA Act that justifies the detention of the detenue for smuggling, transporting, or concealing smuggled goods,” the petition highlights.
Case Title: H P Rohini vs Joint Secretary & Others
Case Number: WPHC 47/2025