The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has imposed a hefty penalty of Rs 102 crore on Kannada actress Ranya Rao in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case. The penalty notice, spanning 2,500 pages, was served to the actress and three other individuals currently in Bengaluru Central Jail. The DRI has warned that if the fines are not paid, their properties could be attached.
Details of the Case
Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru upon her arrival from Dubai. She was caught with 14.8 kg of gold. The investigation revealed that she made frequent trips to Dubai, traveling up to 52 times between 2023 and early 2025. It is also alleged that she used police escorts to avoid customs screening.
The actress is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer K. Ramachandra Rao. Her husband, Jatin Hukkeri, has sought legal relief, claiming they were living separately at the time of the incident.
Additional Penalties and Allegations
In addition to the fine against Ranya Rao, the DRI has also imposed significant penalties on three other individuals implicated in the case:
- Hotelier Tarun Kondaraju faces a penalty of Rs 63 crore.
- Jewelers Sahil Sakaria Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain have each been fined Rs 56 crore.
The total penalty for all four individuals exceeds Rs 270 crore.
Ranya Rao has alleged severe mistreatment in DRI custody, claiming she was slapped multiple times, denied food and sleep, and coerced into signing blank and voluminous documents.
The case has drawn considerable public attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the large scale of the smuggling operation. The Karnataka High Court has posted a related hearing for September 11.
