Ranya Rao Fined ₹102 Crore in Gold Smuggling Case
Kannada actress Ranya Rao has been fined ₹102 crore by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in connection with a gold smuggling case.
Details of the Case
The show-cause notice, spanning over 2,500 pages, was served to Rao inside Bengaluru Central Prison. She and three others were informed that failure to pay the penalty may result in the attachment of their properties.
Seizure and Allegations
On March 3, authorities seized approximately 127 kg of smuggled gold from Rao, who was intercepted at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after arriving from Dubai. Rao is also accused of making frequent trips—potentially over 30—to Dubai to facilitate smuggling operations.
Co-accused and Penalties
Alongside Rao, others penalized include Tarun Kondaraju, fined around ₹63 crore, and jewellers Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain, each fined between ₹53 and ₹56 crore. Collectively, the total penalties across all four accused exceed ₹270 crore.
Legal Status
Earlier in the year, Rao was detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) and sentenced to one year in prison, with no bail granted throughout the term.
