Kannada actress Ranya Rao is facing serious legal trouble after being caught in a gold smuggling case. Rao was arrested on 3 March 2025 at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport while attempting to bring 14.2 kilograms of gold from Dubai. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has now imposed a massive ₹102 crore penalty, which includes the market value of the seized gold and the customs duties allegedly avoided.
Ranya Rao Faces ₹102 Crore Gold Smuggling Penalty
Investigations revealed that Ranya Rao made frequent trips to Dubai, traveling up to 30 times in one year, sometimes making four trips within just 15 days. Authorities suspect she smuggled gold on most of these visits. Reports indicate that Rao earned approximately ₹1 lakh for every kilogram of gold she smuggled, potentially making crores of rupees over the year.
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The actress reportedly used special jackets and waist belts designed to hide gold bars during her trips. At the time of her arrest, she was wearing one such jacket lined with bullion. The DRI had already been monitoring her due to her unusually frequent foreign travel and acted on a specific tip-off to intercept her immediately after landing.
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Rao reportedly tried to use her family connections to influence airport checks. She claimed to be the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, Karnataka’s DGP. Despite this, intelligence officers conducted a thorough search, leading to the seizure.
Several accomplices were also arrested, including businessman Tarun Kondaraju and jewellers Sahil Sakharia Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain, who allegedly helped sell the gold and move money through hawala networks. Officials continue to investigate the extent of their involvement and any connections to larger smuggling syndicates.
Ranya Rao remains in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison along with her co-accused. Her stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, expressed shock and distanced himself from the case, saying, “I was also shocked and devastated… The law will do its job. There is no black mark on my career.”
The case has made headlines for exposing a possible network of gold smuggling linked to multiple individuals, including those in the film industry. While the ₹102 crore penalty is significant, prosecution under the Customs Act and COFEPOSA will continue, ensuring that Rao and her accomplices face legal consequences for their actions.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
