In a major development, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has filed a comprehensive 2,200-page chargesheet before the designated economic offences court in Bengaluru, naming Kannada actor Ranya Rao and three others for their alleged involvement in a large-scale gold smuggling and hawala network.
Ranya Rao, daughter of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, has been accused of orchestrating the smuggling operation along with Tarun K. Raju, while Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain allegedly handled the distribution of the illicit gold within India.
Massive Penalties Imposed
According to the chargesheet, the DRI has levied staggering monetary penalties on the accused:
- ₹102 crore on Ranya Rao
- ₹62 crore on Tarun K. Raju
- ₹53 crore each on Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain
Investigators allege that the group smuggled 127 kilograms of gold, valued at around ₹270 crore, into the country, apart from engaging in hawala transactions to route proceeds.
The DRI has also invoked provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act against Ranya, Tarun, and Sahil—indicating the gravity of the case and the department’s move toward preventive detention.
How the Smuggling Racket Operated
The chargesheet details a sophisticated modus operandi:
Step 1: Declaring Fake Destinations
Tarun Raju and Ranya Rao frequently traveled from Dubai, but with declarations to Dubai Customs showing Tarun as en route to destinations like Geneva or Bangkok. This misdeclaration helped them evade stringent scrutiny.
Step 2: Handing Over the Gold
Once Tarun cleared Dubai Customs on the pretext of an onward journey, he allegedly handed over the gold to Ranya within Dubai itself.
Step 3: Transporting to India on Same-Day Travel
Ranya would then fly to India on the same day, carrying the concealed gold bars.
Step 4: Domestic Distribution
After landing in India, she reportedly coordinated with Sahil Sakaria and Bharat Jain, who are accused of distributing the contraband and ensuring it reached intended buyers through informal unlawful channels.
Business Front Allegedly Used in Dubai
The DRI has claimed that Ranya operated a Dubai-based firm, Vira Diamonds, which legally imported gold into Dubai. Investigators say this business was used as a front to divert a portion of the imported metal for smuggling into India.
What Happens Next?
The special court will now examine the voluminous chargesheet, while the DRI continues to pursue both preventive and punitive action under various customs and anti-smuggling laws.
The case, involving high-profile names and cross-border money movement, is expected to proceed as one of the largest gold-smuggling prosecutions filed in recent years.
