Gold smuggling case | Ranya Rao, associates smuggled 127.287 kg of gold in just one year, used Hawala: ED

Bengaluru: Kannada actress Ranya Rao and her associates smuggled 127.287 kg of gold worth Rs 102.55 crore into India in just one year, according to the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday. 

The prosecution complaint — equivalent of a police charge sheet — was  filed before the Special Court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases in Bengaluru. 

It names Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru Raju alias Virat Konduru, her key associate and Sahil Sakariya Jain, a jeweller from Ballari, who allegedly helped dispose of the smuggled goods. 

The ED has invoked the offence of money laundering as defined under Section 3 and punishable under Section 4 of the Preventionf of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, it said. 

"Investigations revealed that 127.287 kg of gold worth approximately Rs 102.55 crore was smuggled into India during the period March 2024 to March 2025. The smuggled gold was disposed of in the domestic market through a network of handlers and jewellers. The sale proceeds were generated in cash and settled through hawala channels in India and abroad. These funds were further layered and routed through multiple bank accounts and entities to project them as legitimate business transactions,” the ED stated.

"The investigation has further revealed an organised and structured mechanism involving procurement of gold abroad, illegal import into India, cash-based disposal and subsequent laundering of proceeds through hawala and banking channels. Such activities not only undermine the legal trade and financial systems but also erode public trust in institutions meant to regulate cross-border transactions," it added

On May 21 and 22, 2025, searches held at 16 locations in Karnataka led to the seizure of "incriminating documents, digital devices, Indian currency and foreign currency". 

Statements of several persons were recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA during the course of the investigation, the agency said. 

"During investigation, immovable properties valued at Rs 34.12 crore held in the name of Ranya were provisionally attached vide Provisional Attachment Order No. 16/2025 dated 04.07.2025 under Section 5(1) of PMLA, 2002,” the ED said. 

The ED launched a separate investigation following an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 7, 2025. The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). 

On March 3, 2025, the DRI caught Ranya after she landed at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), allegedly with 14.213 kg of concealed foreign-origin gold, worth Rs 12.56 crore. 

Subsequent searches led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in cash. The DRI later arrested her accomplices. A prosecution complaint was also filed by DRI under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962. 

Ranya and her accomplices are currently lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru after they were booked under the stringent Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974.