Ranya Rao duped ₹2 crore in Africa-linked gold smuggling case

Kannada actress Ranya Rao and her associate Tarun Konduru Raju were detained in Bengaluru as investigators outline a larger Africa-to-India gold smuggling scheme. Officials familiar with the ED charge sheet say Rao and Raju were duped by a Ugandan agent who had promised a direct gold supply from Africa, only to find themselves drawn into a complex operation that involved buying gold in Dubai and attempting to smuggle it home. The Enforcement Directorate’s charge sheet alleges the duo conducted 15 trips from Dubai to India between March 2024 and March 2025, moving about 127.87 kilograms of gold valued at roughly ₹102 crore. The plan also allegedly involved a network of jewellers and intermediaries who would move the gold into the domestic market.

On March 3, 2025, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers intercepted Rao on arrival at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, from Dubai with a 14.213 kg consignment valued at about ₹12.56 crore concealed on her person. Following this seizure, the Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR, while the ED launched a parallel money-laundering probe and attached assets worth ₹34.12 crore in Rao’s name. The probe reportedly indicates the two had sought help from Kenyan officials during earlier abortive attempts, but shifted strategy after being duped. The ED’s complaint states the syndicate smuggled more than 127 kg of gold during the period from March 2024 to March 2025, which was then moved through a chain of handlers before entering the domestic market.

Authorities point to Rao and Raju initially trying to source gold from African nations such as Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, before pivoting to Dubai-based sourcing. The case has sparked questions about risk and accountability for public figures involved in criminal activity, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as more assets are traced and linked to the scheme.

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