Ranya Rao aided Tarun Raj in booking Hyderabad flight for gold smuggling: DRI
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) informed a session court that Kannada actor Ranya Rao helped co-accused Tarun Raju by transferring money for his flight tickets to smuggle gold, News18 reported.
Authorities arrested Ranya Rao on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD) in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold from Dubai. She remains in judicial custody. Three days later, the DRI arrested two foreign nationals at Mumbai airport for smuggling 21.28 kilograms of gold worth Rs. 18.92 crore.
The DRI filed a complaint with the CBI, warning of broader national and international implications. It called for an investigation into potential involvement of unidentified public servants and other unknown individuals in the smuggling network.
During the bail hearing for Tarun Raju, arrested on March 10, the DRI opposed his release. The agency claimed Raju used money from Ranya Rao to buy flight tickets and travel to Hyderabad from Dubai on the same day as her arrest. Officials argued this was part of a larger operation to smuggle gold to Bangkok and Geneva.
To support its claims, the DRI revealed that Raju had traveled to Dubai and returned on the same day at least 20 times. Authorities issued a lookout circular when he attempted to flee the country.
Legal Defense
Raju’s lawyer denied he posed a flight risk, arguing that he is a Bengaluru resident with no pending cases. The defense urged the court to reject the DRI’s claims.
The CBI registered an FIR based on a complaint from Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI.
The Special Court for Economic Offences in Bengaluru has reserved its decision on Raju’s bail plea.
