Allegations of Gold Smuggling Involve Kannada Actress Ranya Rao and Associate Tarun Raju

Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju were arrested in a gold smuggling case in Bengaluru, with the DRI reporting a connection between them and revealing extensive travel to Dubai for potential illicit activities. Investigations have suggested a larger syndicate might be operating with hawala channels, and authorities are extending their inquiry to possible government official involvement and international connections.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) alerted a special court in Bengaluru about the involvement of Kannada actress Ranya Rao and her Telugu actor companion Tarun Konduru Raju in a gold smuggling operation. Officials noted that the two had traveled together frequently over the past two years and had established a connection in illicit activities related to gold smuggling.

Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, was apprehended on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with 14.2 kg of gold bars valued at ₹12.5 crore after returning from Dubai. Raju was arrested shortly thereafter on March 10. The DRI reported that the pair had made 26 trips together in just three months, while Rao’s total trips to Dubai since January numbered at 56.

DRI’s special counsel, Madhu N Rai, presented evidence indicating that Rao and Raju’s swift trips to Dubai, typically returning the same day, were indicative of a gold smuggling scheme. Concerns were raised about Rao’s potential flight risk due to her possession of a UAE resident identity card, resulting in DRI opposing her bail.

Investigations have uncovered the use of hawala channels for money transfers from India to Dubai, and a broader smuggling syndicate appears to be at play. Rao and Raju reportedly established a gold trading company in Dubai, an assertion currently under verification, while further investigations are ongoing regarding any international financial dealings.

In addition, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have initiated separate inquiries into the broader syndicate and the involvement of government officials in facilitating these operations. Allegations suggest that Rao may have leveraged her stepfather’s position to evade scrutiny at the airport, although he has publicly denied involvement in the smuggling activities, maintaining that he has faced previous scrutiny unrelated to this case.

The involvement of Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju in a gold smuggling ring has raised significant concerns for law enforcement agencies. With ongoing investigations revealing a larger syndicate and the use of hawala channels, authorities are also scrutinizing the potential complicity of government officials in this illicit trade. Ranya Rao’s familial connections and extensive travel history present challenges for the investigation, as her stepfather, a high-ranking police officer, denies any wrongdoing.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com