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DRI, opposing Raju’s bail plea, said that it had forensic proof, together with name data and monetary transactions, linking Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju. It additionally claimed to have established that the duo had based Vira Diamonds Buying and selling LLC as a partnership agency with a 50:50…Learn Extra
Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju. File photos/X
Tarun Raju, the co-accused within the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, has been denied bail by the particular courtroom listening to the case.
Whereas Raju’s counsel argued that he was not a flight threat and a resident of Bengaluru, additionally they contended that there have been no pending authorized circumstances in opposition to him and sought bail.
DRI, opposing Raju’s bail plea, said that it had forensic proof, together with name data and monetary transactions, linking Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju. It additionally claimed to have established that the duo had based Vira Diamonds Buying and selling LLC as a partnership agency with a 50:50 stake. The enterprise, primarily based in Dubai, was set as much as import gold from Geneva and Bangkok. Rao had reportedly invested Rs 8-10 lakh to begin the corporate.
The DRI additional argued that cellphones and different digital units belonging to Ranya and Tarun indicated they have been in Dubai on March 3. Moreover, Ranya had booked a ticket from Dubai to Hyderabad on the identical day.
It is usually alleged that Rao deposited money into Tarun’s account on March 3 whereas he was in Dubai and was current there at hand over the gold to her earlier than she travelled to India. DRI claimed {that a} lookout discover issued in Tarun’s title revealed he tried to flee India upon his return and that he had been concerned in gold smuggling a number of instances.
Opposing his bail plea, the DRI additional said that the co-accused had travelled to Hyderabad from Dubai on the day of Ranya Rao’s arrest utilizing cash despatched by the actress to buy flight tickets. It additionally noticed that each Tarun and Ranya had travelled to Dubai 26 instances earlier, indicating their involvement within the case. The tickets have been bought utilizing her American Specific card, in keeping with DRI sources.
The DRI’s arguments additionally said that Tarun and Ranya have been pals from faculty and that Ranya was the first investor in Vira Diamonds, whereas Tarun was the working accomplice. DRI sources mentioned Ranya had invested within the firm and made financial funds on behalf of her enterprise accomplice for gold sourced from European international locations. It was additionally alleged that the duo had as soon as been cheated by a provider in Dubai to the tune of Rs 1.7 crore once they weren’t equipped gold.
Explaining their modus operandi, DRI sources mentioned they moved cash via hawala from India to Dubai and had influential contacts and suppliers in Geneva and Bangkok.
Rao would buy gold from wholesalers in Tarun’s title, as he held a US passport and didn’t require a separate visa. This made it simpler to declare the products at Dubai customs.
Rao, whose bail utility was rejected on March 14, has as soon as once more appealed to the courtroom. She is at the moment below judicial custody after being arrested by DRI on March 3 at Kempegowda Worldwide Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai.
