Bengaluru, April 21, 2025:
The ongoing investigation into a major gold smuggling racket has taken a dramatic turn with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seeking court permission to further interrogate Kannada actress Ranya Rao. The 33-year-old, who was arrested on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for smuggling 14.2 kg of gold concealed on her body, is now the focus of a broader inquiry involving hawala operations and an international gold trading network based in Dubai.
Actress Arrested with Gold Worth Over Rs 12 Crore
Ranya Rao, also known as Harshavardini Ranya, shocked the Kannada film industry and the public when she was apprehended at the Bengaluru airport after arriving from Dubai. The gold she was carrying — 14.2 kilograms — has an estimated market value of Rs 12.56 crore. Reports later emerged identifying her as the stepdaughter of a senior IPS officer in Karnataka, adding further intrigue and complexity to the case.
Currently lodged in judicial custody, Ranya’s arrest has opened a Pandora’s box of revelations regarding a transnational gold smuggling syndicate. The DRI, which has been actively probing the case, believes that the actress is a key player in a broader smuggling network operating between the UAE and India.
DRI Links Actress to Dubai-Based Gold Firm
In its submission to a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru, the DRI highlighted new findings from the interrogation of Telugu actor Virat Konduru alias Tarun Konduru, who was arrested on March 9. Konduru, a US citizen and reportedly Ranya’s business partner, revealed that the two had jointly established a Dubai-based firm — Vira Diamonds Trading LLC. According to his statement, the company was engaged in the purchase and trade of gold in the UAE.
The agency suspects that this firm might have served as a front for sourcing large quantities of gold, which were then smuggled into India through various couriers, including Ranya herself. The DRI is now keen to confront Ranya with these allegations and extract information about the firm’s financial operations and clientele.
49.6 kg of Smuggled Gold Allegedly Handled by Hawala Dealer
The investigation took another critical turn with the arrest of Sahil Jain, a Bengaluru-based hawala dealer, on March 26. Jain is believed to have received 49.6 kg of smuggled gold worth Rs 40 crore between November 2024 and February 2025, allegedly from sources linked to Ranya and Konduru.
DRI officials told the court that confronting Ranya with Jain’s statements is essential to understanding how the smuggled gold was laundered and distributed within India. The agency is also probing whether the proceeds were routed back to Dubai using hawala channels.
Court Hearings and Legal Developments
The DRI has formally moved a plea in the special economic offences court seeking custodial interrogation of Ranya Rao. During the latest hearing, the DRI counsel emphasized the need to cross-question her alongside the two arrested associates to unravel the full extent of the smuggling syndicate. The agency believes that her testimony could expose additional players in the network and provide critical leads on how such large quantities of gold were moved undetected across borders.
As of now, the court is examining the merits of the DRI’s plea and is expected to deliver a decision soon. Legal experts suggest that the DRI’s ability to interrogate Ranya could be pivotal in building a stronger case under the Customs Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
A Web of Glamour, Crime, and International Networks
The involvement of celebrities, including a well-known Kannada actress and a Telugu actor, has given this case a sensational twist. With connections reaching from Dubai to Bengaluru and involving an underground financial network, the scandal underscores the growing challenge for Indian authorities in tackling organized gold smuggling and hawala financing.
As the investigation deepens, more high-profile names and entities could potentially surface. Meanwhile, the DRI remains committed to dismantling the entire network and recovering the gold that has slipped through official channels.
