The Enforcement Directorate (ED) unearthed one of the largest gold smuggling rackets, naming Kannada actress Ranya Rao in the chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED disclosed that about 127 kilograms of gold, worth Rs 102 crore was illegally smuggled into the Indian market in one year with the help of a network of handlers and big jewellers.

Who has been named in the chargesheet?

Apart from Ranya Rao, others named in the chargesheet are Tarun Konduru and Sahil Sakariya Jain, a gold trader hailing from Ballari, Karnataka. According to the agency Rao and two others are the main figures who circulated the smuggled gold.

Last year, Kannada actress Ranya Rao was detained at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru upon her return from Dubai. Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted her at the exit gate after suspicion arose due to her frequent trips to Dubai. According to investigators, Rao was carrying 14 kgs of gold when she was arrested. When arrested, she was wearing some of the gold, and much more was concealed in her baggage.

What was recovered from Rao’s home

Following her arrest, officials searched Rao’s home where she lived with her husband. During the raid approximately gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore were recovered. After these recoveries, suspicions grew regarding her and the larger syndicate operating behind the scenes.

The investigation agency confirmed that smuggling usually involves a larger syndicate, as it cannot be done alone. The chargesheet clearly mentions that proceeds from illegal gold sales were collected in cash in India, with later adjustments made through overseas hawala channels. Currently, the case involving Rao and her companions is being heard in a Special PMLA Court in Bengaluru, and a detailed investigation is underway to uncover the network.

Who Is Ranya Rao?

Ranya Rao has acted in several South Indian films and gained popularity in regional cinema circles. She was well-known in the Kannada industry but generally maintained a lower profile compared to other celebrities in the industry. It was after this case that she became a well-known personality involved in illegal smuggling in India.