Gold Smuggling Case: Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Released On Bail
With the one-year term now complete, agencies, including the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) cannot seek further detention under the same provisions, which could clear the way for her release.
Bengaluru: Actress Ranya Rao (34), accused in the transnational gold smuggling case, was released on bail from Central Prison, Bengaluru on Wednesday. She was lodged in Central Prison, Bengaluru after her arrest by sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3, 2025 in connection with gold smuggling.
The ED investigation into the transnational gold smuggling case revealed a total of 127. 287 kg of gold valued at Rs 102.55 crore was smuggled into India during March 2024 to March, 2025 by the actress before her successful interception. The investigation threw light on smuggled gold disposed of in the domestic market through a network of handlers and jewelers.
Prior to her release from the Prison, The Economic Offences Prevention Court granted her the bail and the actress was detained under Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act after undergoing a year in Prison.
It may be recalled here Ranya Rao was successfully intercepted by sleuths of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on March 3 upon her arrival at Kempegowda International Airport near Bengaluru from Dubai.
The examination of the actress by sleuths of DRI, a central agency, detected foreign origin gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore while the smuggled gold bar weighed 14.2 kg. The gold bars were concealed ingeniously by the actress before it was seized by the sleuths of DRI and arrested under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962.
After the successful interception of the actress, sleuths of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) took up its investigation and conducted raids at multiple locations in Bengaluru including the residence of actress on Lavelle Road in March, 2025.
In July, 2025, the Directorate of Enforcement, New Delhi provisionally attached immovable properties estimated at Rs 34. 12 crore under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in the transnational gold smuggling case involving Ranya Rao alias Harshavardhini Ranya and her associates Tarun Konduru and Sahil Skariya Jain. The ED attached assets included immovable properties located in Bengaluru and Tumakuru districts of Karnataka.
In May, 2025, ED conducted searches at 16 locations across Karnataka resulting in seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices, Indian currency and foreign currency, statements of several persons were recorded during its investigation under Section 50 of PMLA.
The smuggled gold by the actress, ED investigation revealed "an organised" and "a structured mechanism" involving procurement of gold abroad, illegal imports into India, cash-based disposal and subsequent laundering of proceeds through hawala and banking channels. The ED filed a Prosecution Complaint in the case against the accused.
