The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) informed a court on Tuesday that Kannada actor Ranya Rao has confessed to using illegal ‘hawala’ channels to transfer funds for purchasing gold. Advocate Madhu Rao of the DRI asserted that the accused admitted to conducting financial transactions through unofficial means, as per a PTI report.
Following the confession, the authorities issued a notice under Section 108 of the Customs Act, initiating a judicial inquiry into the matter. Officials clarified that the proceedings are part of a judicial probe, not a police interrogation, as mandated by the law.
Investigating Financial Irregularities
Authorities are currently investigating the extent of financial irregularities in the case and assessing potential violations of the law. The case has drawn significant attention due to its connections to a larger gold smuggling network.
The Ranya Rao Gold Smuggling Case
Ranya Rao, who is the stepdaughter of Karnataka IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, was arrested at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on March 3 after DRI officials found her carrying gold bars hidden in a jacket.
Officials seized 14.2 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately ₹12.56 crore. Following her arrest, DRI officials raided her residence, recovering cash and gold jewelry worth ₹4.73 crore, bringing the total seized amount to ₹17.29 crore.
CBI Registers FIR Under Corruption and Smuggling Laws
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) later registered an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of the DRI. The FIR was filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS).
According to the complaint, two foreign nationals were arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6 for attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold worth ₹18.92 crore into India. Officials believe these passengers traveled from Dubai, raising suspicions about a coordinated smuggling syndicate operating from the UAE.
With multiple high-profile arrests and ongoing investigations, authorities are now working to uncover the full extent of the gold smuggling racket and its possible links to an international hawala network.
Sources By Agencies
