Kannada actor Ranya Rao admits to Hawala transactions in gold smuggling case, court reserves bail order
PTC Web Desk: Kannada actor Ranya Rao, arrested earlier this month for smuggling 14.8 kg of gold, has admitted that the money used for the purchase was routed through hawala channels, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) informed a court on Tuesday.
During her bail plea hearing, DRI’s advocate Madhu Rao stated that the authorities had issued a notice under Section 108 to initiate a judicial probe into the financial irregularities linked to the case. Ranya Rao has faced two bail rejections—one from a lower court and another from the Special Court for Economic Offences. After hearing the arguments, the court has reserved its decision on her latest bail plea for March 27.
The 31-year-old actress was apprehended on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, where officials discovered gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore hidden on her body. A subsequent raid at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash.
The authorities suspect that Ranya Rao and her associate, actor Tarun Raju, made multiple Dubai trips as part of the smuggling operation. The DRI claims that she took 52 trips between 2023 and 2025, with 45 of them being one-day returns. In January 2025 alone, she reportedly travelled to Dubai 27 times through Bengaluru, Goa, and Mumbai.
Investigators allege that Ranya transferred funds to Tarun’s account and booked his flights. He would then travel from Dubai to Hyderabad, raising further suspicion of a structured gold smuggling network.
Ranya Rao was caught with gold bars strapped to her body using bandages and hidden in her shoes and pockets. The gold, confirmed to be 24-carat, weighed 14.2 kg. She faces charges under the Customs Act and the Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act.
Adding to the controversy, a Protocol Officer who assisted Ranya at the airport disclosed that he was acting under direct orders from her stepfather, DGP Ramchandra Rao. Following public outcry, the senior police officer was placed on compulsory leave.
- With inputs from agencies
