The probe by the Kannada actress Ranya Rao in the gold smuggling case has now become formal with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) joining the probe. In connection with the case, the ED has also slammed raids in Bengaluru to widen the investigation on possible acts of money laundering and foreign exchange law violations.
On March 3, 2025, having caught a woman, Ranya Rao smuggling over 14 kgs of gold strapped to her body at Bengaluru Airport, the investigation began with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which arrested her. It is one of the biggest smuggling cases in recent times, and the seized gold is worth several crores.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been roped in, too, as the DRI requested the agency. Now, the CBI has registered an FIR based on a complaint by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. The complaint of Gupta reveals the presence of the possibility of a gold smuggling syndicate based from Dubai, an indication of organised crime and international smuggling networks.
The two foreign nationals arrested at Mumbai Airport on March 6, 2025, with 21.28 kgs of gold, days after the arrest of Rao, raised further suspicion. It has sparked suggestions that the smugglers may be carrying out their trade as part of a larger international network, possibly even from Dubai.
Ranya Rao told investigators she has never smuggled gold but to this day they remain skeptical and are looking into her alleged connections. Now, the ED is trying to track any large money laundering network through financial transactions associated with the case.
Due to involvement of multiple agencies, the case has assumed serious dimensions and it looks like there is a wider gold smuggling racket as also with international linkages.
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