Latest news with #HarshavardiniRanya
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Who is Ranya Rao? Actress sent to jail for 1 year due to...
In a latest development, the three suspects, including Kannada actor Ranya Rao, have been jailed for 1 year in the infamous gold smuggling case. The decision came under the provision of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA). The advisory board under Section 8 of the Act has recommended that the provisions continue to apply to Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru Raju alias Virat Konduru, and Sahil Sakariya Jain, a top source in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) confirmed to DH on Thursday. 'This essentially means that Ranya and the other two suspects will remain in prison for at least a year, despite the lower court granting the two of them bail,' the well-placed source said. 'The board came to the decision, keeping in mind the evidence against the suspects, and communicated it to the investigators on Thursday.'
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- New Indian Express
ED attaches Rs 34.12 crore assets of actress Ranya Rao in gold smuggling, money laundering case
BENGALURU: The Headquarter Investigative Unit-II of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in New Delhi has provisionally attached immovable properties of Rs 34.12 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), in a case related to the transnational gold smuggling and laundering of its proceeds by the popular Kannada actress Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and her associates. The ED has provisionally attached four properties of equivalent value belonging to Rao. These include a residential house in Victoria Layout, a residential plot in Arkavathi Layout, industrial land in Tumakuru, and agricultural land in Anekal Taluk, with a combined fair market value of Rs 34.12 crore. The attachment has been carried out to prevent concealment or alienation of the tainted assets and to secure the proceeds of crime. The investigation revealed that Rao, along with Tarun Konduru Raju and others, orchestrated an operation for smuggling gold into India. Gold was procured from suppliers based in Dubai, Uganda, and other countries, and payments were made through hawala channels in cash, thereby circumventing legal financial systems. False customs declarations were filed in Dubai, fraudulently declaring the destination of gold shipments as Switzerland or the USA, while the actual destination of the gold smugglers was India. Dual sets of travel documents were used, one for the declared export destination and the other for their actual arrival in India. It revealed that the smuggled gold was then sold within India in cash to jewellers and other local entities, and the proceeds were laundered through further hawala remittances abroad to finance repeat consignments for smuggling more gold into India. Further investigation is in progress to trace the remaining proceeds of crime. The probe began after a FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
Hindustan Times
05-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
₹34-cr assets attached in Ranya Rao gold smuggling case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth ₹34.12 crore in its money laundering probe into gold smuggling syndicate involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, agency said on Friday while adding that the accused had detailed coordination with foreign gold suppliers, hawala operators, and Dubai-based customs agents and public officials at airports in India are also under scrutiny. Ranya Rao 'ED, Headquarter Investigative Unit-II, New Delhi has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at ₹34.12 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case involving transnational gold smuggling and laundering of its proceeds by Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and her associates. The attached assets include immovable properties located in Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka,' ED said in a statement. The financial crimes probe agency said it has identified proceeds of crime worth ₹55 crore in the smuggling so far. ED is among several central agencies - along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) - that are looking into a larger conspiracy into the gold smuggling racket. Its probe is based on a CBI case filed in March 7 this year following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). DRI had intercepted Rao, stepdaughter of a director general of police rank officer, on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, with 14.213 kg of concealed 24-carat foreign-origin gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore. A search of her residence led to the recovery of ₹2.67 crore in unaccounted Indian currency and gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore. The agency said on Friday its probe revealed that 'Ranya Rao, in active collusion with Tarun Konduru Raju and others, orchestrated a well-structured operation for smuggling gold into India'. 'Gold was procured from suppliers based in Dubai, Uganda, and other jurisdictions, and payments were made through hawala channels in cash, thereby circumventing legal financial systems. False customs declarations were filed in Dubai, fraudulently declaring the destination of gold shipments as Switzerland or the USA, while the actual travel of the gold smugglers was to India. Dual sets of travel documents were used i.e. one for the declared export destination and the other for their actual arrival in India, to evade scrutiny and facilitate smuggling through Indian airports,' ED said. Further, ED investigation has revealed that the smuggled gold was then sold within India in cash to jewellers and other local entities, and the proceeds were subsequently laundered through further hawala remittances abroad to finance repeat consignments for smuggling more gold into India. 'Evidence retrieved from the seized mobile phones and forensic extraction of digital devices, have revealed detailed coordination with foreign gold suppliers, hawala operators, and Dubai-based customs agents. Ranya Rao's involvement in generating, possessing, and circulating proceeds of crime was further corroborated by her digital footprint, which includes invoices, export declarations, foreign remittance records, and recorded chats establishing her active role in the smuggling syndicate,' agency said. Earlier, ED had in May raided 16 locations, including educational institutes linked to Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara and some hawala and forex dealers in this case. ED recorded Rao's statement during which she knowledge of the seized gold and other assets; however, her claims were demonstrably contradicted by seized physical evidence, including customs documents bearing her name, travel and purchase records, and digital conversations, agency statement said. 'Despite the seizure of 14.2 kg of smuggled gold and associated assets by DRI, the total proceeds of crime identified during ED's investigation have been quantified at ₹55.62 Crore. This includes approximately ₹38.32 Crore identified through analysis of the evidence gathered during the course of investigation by ED e.g. foreign invoices, customs declarations, and hawala-linked remittances,' ED added. 'It has also emerged during investigation that Ranya Rao was assisted at the airport upon her arrival in India, and the possible involvement of public servants in facilitating her illicit activities is under scrutiny,' it said. As a substantial portion of the proceeds of crime had been layered and reinvested into immovable assets to project them as untainted, ED said it has provisionally attached four properties of equivalent value belonging to Ranya Rao. These include a residential house in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru; a residential plot in Arkavathi Layout, Bengaluru; industrial land in Tumkur District; and agricultural land in Anekal Taluk, with a combined fair market value of ₹34.12 Crore. 'Further investigation is under progress to trace the remaining proceeds of crime and identify other individuals and entities involved in the syndicate,' it said.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
ED attaches ₹34 crore assets linked to actor Ranya Rao in gold smuggling probe
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth ₹34.12 crore in connection with its money laundering probe into the alleged gold smuggling syndicate involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, the agency said on Friday. ED attaches ₹ 34 crore assets linked to actor Ranya Rao in gold smuggling probe 'ED, Headquarter Investigative Unit-II, New Delhi has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at ₹34.12 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case involving transnational gold smuggling and laundering of its proceeds by Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and her associates. The attached assets include immovable properties located in Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka,' ED said in a statement. The financial crimes probe agency said it has identified proceeds of crime worth ₹55 crore in the smuggling so far. ED is among several central agencies - along with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) - that are looking into a larger conspiracy into the gold smuggling racket. Its probe is based on a CBI case filed on March 7 this year following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). DRI intercepted Rao, stepdaughter of a director general of police rank officer, on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, with 14.213 kg of concealed 24-carat foreign-origin gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore. A search of her residence resulted in the recovery of ₹2.67 crore in unaccounted Indian currency and gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore. On Friday, the agency said its probe revealed that 'Ranya Rao, in active collusion with Tarun Konduru Raju and others, orchestrated a well-structured operation for smuggling gold into India'. 'Gold was procured from suppliers based in Dubai, Uganda, and other jurisdictions, and payments were made through hawala channels in cash, thereby circumventing legal financial systems. False customs declarations were filed in Dubai, fraudulently declaring the destination of gold shipments as Switzerland or the USA, while the actual travel of the gold smugglers was to India. Dual sets of travel documents were used i.e. one for the declared export destination and the other for their actual arrival in India, to evade scrutiny and facilitate smuggling through Indian airports,' ED said. Further, ED investigation has revealed that the smuggled gold was sold in India to jewellers and other local entities, and the proceeds were subsequently laundered through further hawala remittances abroad to finance repeat consignments for smuggling more gold into India. 'Evidence retrieved from the seized mobile phones and forensic extraction of digital devices, have revealed detailed coordination with foreign gold suppliers, hawala operators, and Dubai-based customs agents. Ranya Rao's involvement in generating, possessing, and circulating proceeds of crime was further corroborated by her digital footprint, which includes invoices, export declarations, foreign remittance records, and recorded chats establishing her active role in the smuggling syndicate,' the agency said. In May, ED raided 16 locations, including educational institutes linked to Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara and some hawala and forex dealers in this case. ED recorded Rao's statement during which she denied knowledge of the seized gold and other assets; however, her claims were demonstrably contradicted by seized physical evidence, including customs documents bearing her name, travel and purchase records, and digital conversations, the agency statement said. 'Despite the seizure of 14.2 kg of smuggled gold and associated assets by DRI, the total proceeds of crime identified during ED's investigation have been quantified at ₹55.62 crore. This includes approximately ₹38.32 crore identified through analysis of the evidence gathered during the investigation by ED e.g. foreign invoices, customs declarations, and hawala-linked remittances,' ED added. 'It has also emerged during investigation that Ranya Rao was assisted at the airport upon her arrival in India, and the possible involvement of public servants in facilitating her illicit activities is under scrutiny,' it said. As a substantial portion of the proceeds of crime had been layered and reinvested into immovable assets to project them as untainted, ED said it has provisionally attached four properties of equivalent value belonging to Ranya Rao. These include a residential house in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru; a residential plot in Arkavathi Layout, Bengaluru; industrial land in Tumkur District; and agricultural land in Anekal Taluk, with a combined fair market value of ₹34.12 Crore. 'Further investigation is under progress to trace the remaining proceeds of crime and identify other individuals and entities involved in the syndicate,' it said.
News18
04-07-2025
- News18
Gold Smuggling Case: ED Attaches Ranya Rao's Immovable Properties Worth Rs 34.12 Cr
Last Updated: The Directorate of Enforcement has attached properties worth Rs 34.12 Crore under PMLA in a gold smuggling case involving Ranya Rao, including assets in Bengaluru and Tumkur. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at Rs 34.12 Crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in a case involving transnational gold smuggling and laundering of its proceeds by Ms. Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao and her associates, a press release said. The attached assets include immovable properties located in Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. The attachments have been made in terms of Section 5(1) of PMLA as property equivalent in value to the untraced proceeds of crime identified during the investigation. ED initiated its investigation based on FIR No. RC2172025A0006 dated March 07, 2025, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), AC-II, New Delhi under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 120B IPC) and Sections 7 & 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The FIR pertained to the interception of two foreign nationals—an Omani and a UAE citizen—at Mumbai International Airport with 21.28 kg of smuggled foreign-origin gold, valued at Rs 18.92 Crore. Earlier, on March 03, 2025, DRI had intercepted Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, with 14.213 kg of concealed 24-carat foreign-origin gold, valued at Rs 12.56 Crore. A search of her residence resulted in the recovery of Rs 2.67 Crore in unaccounted Indian currency and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 Crore. According to the release, false customs declarations were filed in Dubai, fraudulently declaring the destination of gold shipments as Switzerland or the USA, while the actual destination of the gold smugglers was India. Dual sets of travel documents were used, i.e. one for the declared export destination and the other for their actual arrival in India, to evade scrutiny and facilitate smuggling through Indian airports. Further, ED investigation has revealed that the smuggled gold was then sold within India in cash to jewellers and other local entities, and the proceeds were subsequently laundered through further hawala remittances abroad to finance repeat consignments for smuggling more gold into India. Evidence retrieved from the seized mobile phones and forensic extraction of digital devices has revealed detailed coordination with foreign gold suppliers, hawala operators, and Dubai-based customs agents. Ranya Rao's involvement in generating, possessing, and circulating proceeds of crime was further corroborated by her digital footprint, which includes invoices, export declarations, foreign remittance records, and recorded chats establishing her active role in the smuggling syndicate. In her statement under Section 50 of the PMLA, Ranya Rao denied knowledge of the seized gold and other assets; however, her claims were demonstrably contradicted by seized physical evidence, including customs documents bearing her name, travel and purchase records, and digital conversations. Despite the seizure of 14.2 kg of smuggled gold and associated assets by DRI, the total proceeds of crime identified during ED's investigation have been quantified at Rs 55.62 Crore. This includes approximately Rs 38.32 Crore identified through analysis of the evidence gathered during the course of investigation by ED, e.g. foreign invoices, customs declarations, and hawala-linked remittances. The same has been corroborated through searches conducted by ED under Section 17 of PMLA. It has also emerged during the investigation that Ranya Rao was assisted at the airport upon her arrival in India, and the possible involvement of public servants in facilitating her illicit activities is under scrutiny. As a substantial portion of the proceeds of crime had been layered and reinvested into immovable assets to project them as untainted, ED has provisionally attached four properties of equivalent value belonging to Ranya Rao. These include a residential house in Victoria Layout, Bengaluru; a residential plot in Arkavathi Layout, Bengaluru; industrial land in Tumkur District; and agricultural land in Anekal Taluk, with a combined fair market value of Rs 34.12 Crore. The attachment has been carried out to prevent the concealment or alienation of the tainted assets and to secure the proceeds of crime following Section 2(1)(u) of the PMLA. Further investigation is in progress to trace the remaining proceeds of the crime and identify other individuals and entities involved in the syndicate. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 04, 2025, 20:25 IST News india Gold Smuggling Case: ED Attaches Ranya Rao's Immovable Properties Worth Rs 34.12 Cr
