Bengaluru, March 26 -- Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case, has confessed to using hawala channels for purchases, the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) told a special court on Tuesday, opposing her bail plea.

Rao, stepdaughter of IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3 after DRI officials found her in possession of 14.2 kg of gold bars worth Rs.12.5 crore, upon her arrival from Dubai.

Meanwhile, the special court reserved its order on the bail plea filed by the actress until March 27, following a detailed hearing of arguments from both Rao's counsel Kiran Jawali, who sought her release, and lawyer Madhu Rao, representing DRI, who...