Bengaluru court denies bail to hawala dealer Sahil Jain in Ranya Rao gold smuggling case

A Bengaluru special court for economic offences has rejected the bail plea of hawala dealer Sahil Sakariya Jain, a key accused in the high-profile gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao.
According to a report by Indian Express, the court's decision, delivered on Tuesday, was based on the seriousness of the charges and Jain’s alleged central role in a sophisticated smuggling network operating across India and abroad.
Sahil Jain, 26, was arrested on March 26 by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) after being identified as the intended recipient of 14.2 kg of gold smuggled from Dubai by Ranya Rao and Telugu actor Tarun Konduru Raju. Investigators allege that Jain not only received smuggled gold but also facilitated hawala transactions, helping transfer nearly Rs 39.39 crore in earnings to Dubai. The case papers indicate that between November 2024 and February 2025, Jain assisted Ranya Rao in disposing of almost 50 kg of smuggled gold, valued at over Rs 40 crore.

The court made it clear that the Customs Act does not provide leniency simply because smuggled goods were not found in Jain's possession at the time of arrest. The magistrate mentioned that anyone knowingly dealing with goods liable for confiscation, regardless of physical possession, can be prosecuted under the law. The court cited Jain's previous record and his alleged knowledge of the illegal nature of the transactions as factors justifying the denial of bail.
For the unversed, Ranya Rao, who was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport on March 3 with 14.8 kg of gold concealed in a specially designed waist belt, had made frequent trips to Dubai. Searches at her residence led to the seizure of additional gold jewellery and large sums of cash. Authorities believe she was part of a larger syndicate, with Jain playing a crucial role in the domestic distribution and hawala operations.