In a major development, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has fined Kannada actress Ranya Rao ₹102.55 crore. Officials arrested her in a high-profile gold smuggling case and warned that she may lose her property if she fails to pay the fine.
DRI officials arrested Ranya in March at Kempegowda International Airport. They caught her smuggling 14.8 kg of gold. Investigators revealed that she flew to Dubai four times in just 15 days, with each trip connected to illegal gold trafficking.
During questioning, authorities discovered that the actress coordinated a gold smuggling network using false customs declarations and dual travel documents. These documents falsely claimed the gold was headed to Switzerland or the USA, while the real destination was India.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said the gold came from suppliers in Dubai, Uganda, and other countries. Payments were routed through hawala channels, bypassing official financial systems. Digital evidence from seized phones revealed chats, invoices, remittance records, and export documents. The ED said this proved Ranya’s active role in the illegal operation. She reportedly worked with foreign gold dealers, hawala operators, and Dubai customs agents.
Ranya wasn’t alone. Hotelier Tarun Kondaraju received a ₹63 crore fine. Jewellers Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar were fined ₹56 crore each. DRI officials delivered a 250-page notice to each accused, backed by over 11,000 pages of evidence.
Also Read Demon Slayer Star Takahiro Sakurai says He’s a Huge Rajinikanth Fan
Ranya, the stepdaughter of a top police officer, was sentenced to one year in jail under COFEPOSA in July. The High Court will hear the next phase of the case on September 11. Investigators say more action could follow if the fines go unpaid.
Share
Demon Slayer Star Takahiro Sakurai says He's a Huge Rajinikanth Fan
Top 5 Best Malayalam OTT Releases to Watch This Week
