The ED launched its probe after registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), taking cognisance of the CBI’s FIR and the DRI’s investigation.
Published Mar 14, 2025 | 8:13 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 16, 2025 | 5:14 PM
Actor Ranya Rao.
Synopsis: The ED launched an investigation on Thursday, 13 March, into the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao. According to reports, ED officials raided eight places in Bengaluru and other areas as part of their money laundering investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched an investigation on Thursday, 13 March, into the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, the stepdaughter of Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) K Ramachandra Rao.
The CBI had also registered a case after the arrest of Ranya Rao and her close associate Tarun Konduru Raj by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at the Bengaluru airport.
The ED launched its probe after registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), taking cognisance of the CBI’s FIR and the DRI’s investigation. The Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru had sent the actor to judicial custody till 24 March.
According to reports, ED officials raided eight places in Bengaluru and other areas on Thursday as part of their money laundering investigation.
The CBI registered a case against the possible existence of an international smuggling nexus after the DRI filed a complaint.
Meanwhile, Karnataka protocol officer Basavaraj Ibblur admitted to providing protocol privileges to Ranya Rao, based on instructions from her stepfather Ramachandra Rao. The protocol officer gave this statement to the DRI during questioning.
Ramachandra Rao, a DGP-ranked officer currently serving as Chairman and Managing Director of Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
The DRI arrested Ranya Rao on 3 March at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport on charges of smuggling 14.8kg of gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore. The following day, authorities seized gold jewellery valued at ₹2.06 crore and ₹2.67 crore in cash from her residence on Lavelle Road.
The DRI is also probing whether these officers were complicit or unknowingly involved in the smuggling network.
In an order dated 10 March, the government appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to lead the investigation and submit the findings within a week.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
