The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet in Bengaluru against Kannada actor Ranya Rao, along with two alleged associates, in connection with a massive gold smuggling and money laundering case involving over ₹102 crore.
The prosecution complaint, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), also names Tarun Konduru, described as Rao’s associate, and Bellari-based gold dealer Sahil Sakariya Jain.
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The Smuggling Network
According to the ED, a staggering 127.287 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at approximately ₹102.55 crore, was smuggled into India between March 2024 and March 2025. The agency alleges that the gold was brought into the country through illegal channels and later sold in the domestic market via a network of handlers and jewellers.
The proceeds from the sale were reportedly generated in cash and routed through hawala channels, before being layered through multiple bank accounts to project them as legitimate business transactions.
Arrest at Bengaluru Airport
Ranya Rao, whose full name is Harshavardini Ranya, was arrested on March 3, 2025, by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport after arriving from Dubai.
Officials recovered 14.213 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore, from her possession. Subsequent searches reportedly led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore.
The DRI later filed a prosecution complaint under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962.
Assets Worth ₹34.12 Crore Attached
During the course of the investigation, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹34.12 crore held in Rao’s name. Search operations conducted across 16 locations in Karnataka in May 2025 resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices, and both Indian and foreign currency.
The agency stated that statements of multiple individuals were recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA during the ongoing probe.
Case Origin
The investigation was initiated based on a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a complaint by the DRI.
The ED has described the operation as an “organised and structured mechanism” involving procurement of gold abroad, illegal import into India, cash-based disposal, and subsequent laundering through hawala and banking channels.
Officials added that such activities undermine legal trade and financial systems and erode public trust in institutions regulating cross-border transactions.
The investigation remains ongoing.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
