Karnataka, Bengaluru City: Actress Ranya Rao’s husband Jatin Hukkeri has sought legal protection in the ongoing gold smuggling case. The Karnataka High Court had earlier ordered that no action be taken against him and the protection will remain in force till the next hearing on March 24. Jatin’s lawyer Prabhulinga Navadagi argued that his client had been illegally separated from Ranya since December, barely a month after their marriage. Meanwhile, DRI lawyer Madhu Rao told the court that objections would be filed by Monday. Hukkeri approached the court for relief fearing arrest due to his association with Ranya Rao. The High Court had initially granted protection on March 11. Ranya, who was caught smuggling gold from Dubai on March 3, is still in custody. She recently filed a fresh bail application after her earlier request was rejected. The sessions court will hear the application today.
Ranya Rao was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport upon her arrival from Dubai via an Emirates flight. Authorities found her in possession of 14.80 kg of gold. Further investigations led to the seizure of gold worth ₹2.06 crore and cash amounting to ₹2.67 crore from her luxury flat on Lavelle Road, where she was reportedly paying ₹4.5 lakh in rent.
Originally from Chikkamagaluru, Ranya entered the Kannada film industry in 2014 with Manikya alongside Kiccha Sudeep. She later appeared in Pataki with Golden Star Ganesh and also worked in Tamil cinema.
