The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), India’s premier anti-smuggling agency, informed the Karnataka High Court on Monday that Kannada actress Ranya Rao and Telugu actor Virat Konduru are involved in a large-scale gold smuggling racket. The agency alleged their involvement in smuggling approximately 100 kilograms of gold into India as part of an ongoing illegal operation.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the DRI based its findings on an analysis of customs declarations made by both actors in a foreign country, alongside the amount of gold received by hawala dealer Sahil Jain, who has also been arrested in connection with the case.
The investigation revealed that, beyond the 14.2 kg of gold seized from Ranya Rao at Bengaluru airport on March 3, a total of 100 kg of gold is believed to have been smuggled. The agency further stated that evidence of gold smuggling was found during 11 of the 31 trips made by the actors abroad since early 2024, and authorities are continuing to gather more evidence to connect these trips with smuggling activities.
During arguments before a single-judge bench, Madhu N Rao, representing the DRI, revealed that investigators had obtained four additional customs declarations from 2024. The court directed the agency to submit all relevant details related to these declarations.
The court also questioned how Ranya Rao was able to access special protocol services at Bengaluru airport during her return trips from the US. The DRI counsel explained that Rao used these services based on instructions from her stepfather, Ramachandra Rao, a senior DGP-ranked police officer, who coordinated with a police constable managing the protocol services at the airport.
The case will be further heard by the Karnataka High Court on April 22.
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