Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case expands as Bengaluru hotelier’s grandson arrested

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested Tarun Raju, the grandson of Atria Hotel’s owner, in connection with the gold smuggling case linked to Kannada actress Ranya Rao. This latest development comes just days after Rao was detained at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru while attempting to smuggle 17 gold bars valued at ₹12.56 crore.

According to reports, investigators found substantial evidence connecting Raju to the smuggling operation. Following his arrest, he was presented before the Special Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru, which granted the DRI five days of custody to interrogate him further.

Investigators Unravel Smuggling Network

Authorities suspect that both Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju were part of a broader gold smuggling racket, which involved illegally transporting gold from foreign nations into India. While their friendship reportedly weakened after Rao’s marriage to architect Jatin Hukkeri, investigators believe their gold smuggling network remained intact. Officials revealed that Rao had communicated with Raju while traveling from Dubai, allegedly coordinating smuggling operations.

Two days prior to Raju’s arrest, DRI officials had already detained Rao, following which both individuals were interrogated together. Authorities are now working to uncover the full scale of the illegal operation and identify any additional members involved in the smuggling network.

Ranya Rao Confesses to Repeated Gold Smuggling Trips

Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of Ramachandra Rao, the Director General of Police of the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, has reportedly made a partial confession. She admitted to frequently traveling to multiple international destinations, including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Europe, and smuggling gold during her visits.

Officials disclosed that she visited Dubai nearly 30 times in the past year, with four of those trips occurring within just 15 days. During each visit, she allegedly transported smuggled gold. In a raid conducted at her residence, authorities seized gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore along with ₹2.67 crore in Indian currency.

Despite her partial admission, Rao has requested that details of the investigation remain private. She assured full cooperation with authorities but later accused DRI officials of mistreating her.

Accusations of Harassment and Forced Confession

During a court hearing on Monday (March 10), Rao alleged that DRI officials had verbally abused her during questioning. She further claimed that she was pressured into signing documents against her will. However, the investigating officer denied the allegations, asserting that Rao had been uncooperative during interrogation.

“She refuses to answer any questions during interrogation. Every time we ask, she remains silent. We have recorded the entire investigation,” the officer informed the judge.

Meanwhile, investigators are working to determine if additional individuals, including high-profile associates or financial backers, were involved in the smuggling operation. Officials believe the gold smuggling racket could be part of a larger international network, prompting authorities to expand their probe.

Ongoing Investigation into Gold Smuggling Network

With the gold smuggling network now under heightened scrutiny, authorities are investigating how such large quantities of gold were successfully smuggled into India without detection. The DRI is also looking into potential financial links between the accused and other individuals involved in organized smuggling activities.

As the investigation unfolds, more arrests could follow, with officials determined to dismantle the gold smuggling racket and trace the full scope of its operations.