Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Faces ₹102 Crore Penalty in Gold Smuggling Case

Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been fined Rs. 102 crore by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for her involvement in a large gold smuggling case. The penalty comes months after she was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on March 3, 2025.

Officials say that Rao was caught while trying to bring 14.2 kilograms of gold into India from Dubai. The gold was seized on the spot, and the incident shocked both the Kannada film industry and the business community in Karnataka. It is considered one of the largest gold seizures in recent months.

Ranya Rao is the step-daughter of senior police officer K Ramachandra Rao, a fact that has drawn even more public attention to the case. Investigators allege that she was not working alone and that she coordinated the operation with three other people.

Businessman Tarun Kondaraju is accused of arranging the transport, while jewelers Sahil Sakharia Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain are suspected of handling the sale of the gold and moving the money through illegal hawala channels.

All four accused are currently in custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru. On Tuesday, DRI officers from Mumbai served them official notices at the prison. These notices included detailed documents describing the charges and the evidence collected against them.

According to officials, the Rs. 102 crore penalty was calculated by adding the market value of the confiscated gold to the customs duties that were allegedly avoided. Authorities have made it clear that this penalty is only a financial punishment.

It does not replace the criminal proceedings that are still underway. The accused will continue to face prosecution under Indian laws, including the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, commonly known as COFEPOSA.

Support our journalism by subscribing to Taxscan premium. Follow us on Telegram for quick updates