Gold smuggling case: DRI reveals co-accused aided Ranya Rao Rs 38 crore hawala transfers in Jan-Feb

Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been facing scrutiny after her involvement in the high-profile gold smuggling case. She has found herself in the massive gold smuggling and hawala money laundering scandal, with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) uncovering surprising details about her alleged involvement.As per a report by News18 report, in January and February 2025, Ranya reportedly disposed of 49.6 kg of smuggled gold worth Rs 40.13 crore and facilitated hawala transactions amounting to Rs 38.39 crore to Dubai.The DRI has identified Sahil Jain, a jeweler and the third accused in the case, as a key player who assisted Ranya Rao in executing these illegal activities. According to the agency’s remand report, Jain played a crucial role in disposing of the smuggled gold and orchestrating high-value hawala transactions. In January alone, he helped Ranya sell 14.568 kg of gold worth Rs 11.55 crore and transfer Rs 11 crore in hawala money to Dubai. Additionally, Rs 55 lakh was transferred to Ranya in Bengaluru during the same period. The illegal activities continued into February, with Jain facilitating the disposal of another 13.433 kg of gold worth Rs 11.80 crore and transferring Rs 11.25 crore in hawala funds to Dubai. Authorities revealed that Jain earned a commission of Rs 55,000 for each transaction.Ranya Rao’s arrest on March 3 at Bengaluru International Airport marked a turning point in the investigation. She was intercepted by DRI officials after arriving from Dubai with 14.2 kg of gold bars taped to various parts of her body using medical plaster and bandages. A subsequent search of her residence led to the seizure of gold jewelry worth Rs 2.06 crore and unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore, suspected to be profits from her smuggling operations. The DRI continues to investigate the broader network behind these operations, including potential international ramifications and involvement of unknown public officials. Evidence extracted from mobile phones and laptops seized during the investigation may provide further insights into the syndicate's activities.The case has been under attention due to Ranya's connections to influential figures, including her being the stepdaughter of Karnataka's Director General of Police (DGP), Dr. Ramachandra Rao. The DGP has been sent on compulsory leave amid allegations of potential official involvement in the scandal.