Fifteen days have passed since Kannada actress Ranya Rao was apprehended at Bengaluru airport with more than 14 kilograms of gold. Since her arrest, both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have been investigating her purported connection to gold smuggling activities. Investigators have identified a pattern of her frequent international travel, questionable financial transactions, and associations with an alleged hawala network, which have intensified the inquiry into her involvement in smuggling operations.
Records indicate that Ranya Rao made 52 trips to Dubai between 2023 and 2025, with 45 of these being single-day round trips. In the initial two months of 2025 alone, she undertook 27 visits, frequently transiting through Bengaluru, Goa, and Mumbai. Her solo travel on 45 occasions has raised significant concerns regarding her potential participation in a smuggling syndicate.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Additionally, during a court session on Tuesday, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence asserted that they possess evidence indicating that Rao and her associate, Tarun Raju, undertook 26 trips to Dubai. These trips typically involved departing in the morning and returning by evening, a routine that has aroused suspicion.
In 2023, Rao established Vira Diamonds Trading in Dubai, purportedly as a facade for money laundering activities. Tarun Raju, an actor and entrepreneur, was allegedly her collaborator in this venture. Furthermore, in 2022, she launched Bio Enho India in Bengaluru, which she later rebranded as Xiroda India. The rapid succession of her business initiatives has intensified concerns regarding her financial dealings.
Authorities are currently examining her financial documentation, suspecting that funds deposited into her accounts may have been redirected to unknown entities associated with gold smuggling. Investigators are of the opinion that Rao’s business activities could have been utilized to legitimize wealth obtained through illegal means.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
