Major ED Action in Ranya Rao Case: Assets Worth ₹34.12 Crore in Gold Smuggling Case

Bengaluru (The Uttam Hindu): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken major action against Kannada actress Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and her associates in the gold smuggling and money laundering case. The ED has attached immovable properties worth Rs 34.12 crore, which includes properties in Bengaluru and Tumkur district. These include a house in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru, a plot in Arkavati Layout, industrial land in Tumkur and agricultural land in Anekal taluk.

The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED investigation began on March 7, 2025 on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was based on a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

On March 3, 2025, the DRI arrested Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda airport in Bengaluru with 14.2 kg of 24-carat gold worth Rs 12.56 crore. A search of his house led to the recovery of Rs 2.67 crore in cash and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore.

Besides, two foreign nationals (an Omani and a UAE national) were caught at the Mumbai airport with 21.28 kg of smuggled gold worth Rs 18.92 crore.

Investigation revealed that Ranya Rao along with Tarun Konduru Raju and others ran a well-planned smuggling racket. Gold was purchased from Dubai, Uganda and other places and paid in cash through hawala. In Dubai, the destination of the gold was mentioned as Switzerland or the US in fake documents, while it was brought to India.

Double travel documents were used to facilitate smuggling. The smuggled gold was allegedly sold in cash to jewellers in India and the proceeds were sent abroad through hawala channels and used for re-smuggling. The ED proved Ranya's active role in smuggling through evidence recovered from her mobile and digital devices, such as invoices, export documents and chats.

Ranya denied knowledge of gold and properties in the statement, but the documents contradicted her claims. The investigation estimated the total proceeds of crime at Rs 55.62 crore, of which properties worth Rs 34.12 crore were confiscated. The investigation also revealed that Ranya was helped by some public servants at the airport, whose role is under investigation. The ED is now engaged in recovering the remaining proceeds and identifying other people involved.