The ongoing gold smuggling case involving actor Ranya Rao has taken a new turn as her friend, Tarun Konduraju, who accompanied her to Dubai, has now been arrested. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which is investigating the case, has expanded its probe into the smuggling operations. Konduraju, a member of a prominent business family in Bengaluru, was produced in court following his arrest.
Ranya Rao’s Arrest and Smuggling Allegations
Ranya Rao, 33, was taken into custody last week after a DRI team conducted a search at Bengaluru airport and allegedly found her smuggling 14 kg of gold from Dubai. The actor, known for her debut in the 2014 Kannada film Maanikya, arrived on an Emirates flight on Monday when authorities intercepted her. Reports indicate that she frequently traveled to Dubai and smuggled gold bars into India.
A significant aspect of the investigation focuses on her alleged use of VIP privileges to bypass security checks during these smuggling operations. The Karnataka government has now ordered an inquiry into whether certain police personnel assisted her in evading scrutiny. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will investigate if her stepfather, senior IPS officer K Ramachandra Rao, played any role in enabling these privileges.
Step-Father’s Statement and Family Disassociation
Reacting to the developments, K Ramachandra Rao expressed deep shock and distress over the allegations against his stepdaughter. In a statement, he said, “No words can truly express the depth of my shock, pain, and devastation by the recent developments. This is an extremely difficult time for my family and me, and we are struggling to process it. If there is any violation of law on the part of Ranya, the law will take its course.”
He also clarified that Ranya Rao married Jatin Hukkeri in 2024 and had not maintained any contact with them since then.
Multi-Agency Investigation and Political Fallout
Apart from the DRI and Karnataka Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also launched an independent probe into the case. The arrest has triggered political tensions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the ruling Congress government of shielding the actor. The BJP claims that Ranya Rao sought help from two ministers in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s cabinet to evade legal trouble.
On the other hand, the Congress has countered the allegations by pointing out that the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) allotted land to Ranya Rao in 2023 for a steel plant under the previous BJP-led government, led by Basavaraj Bommai. The case has since turned into a political blame game, with both parties attempting to shift accountability.
Sources By Agencies
