'Investigating 100 Kg Gold Declarations Made By Actress Ranya Rao & Co-Accused Together': DRI Opposes Bail Pleas Before Karnataka HC

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) informed Karnataka High Court on Monday (April 21) that it is investigating declarations made to Customs Department regarding gold purchase to the tune of 100 kg, by Kannada Actress Harshavardhini Ranya Rao and other co-accused together.

 While opposing the bail applications filed by Ranya Rao and Tarun Konduru Raju, who have been arrested in the Gold smuggling case, the counsel appearing for DRI contended before Justice S Vishwajith Shetty, “Apart from the seizure in the interception case, we have found other cases. A-1 (Rao) used to smuggle the gold and hand it over to A-3 (Sahil Jain) in Bengaluru, who has antecedents of smuggling. In all the transactions apart from the interception case, we have got links of A-2 (Raju) giving the gold, A-1 (Rao) receiving the gold and giving it to Jain.”

Referring to the declarations revealed in the investigation, it was said, “In all there are 100 kg of gold, as per these declarations, made by all accused together and this is under investigation and application is made for recording additional statements of Rao and Raju, about these transactions.”

The court queried why such details were not provided in the memo. The counsel said he would produce all the necessary declarations before the court on Tuesday.

The DRI also contended that the aspect of hawala money transfer was at the instance of A-1. She would book the travel ticket of A-2 to travel to Dubai and Geneva using her credit card. When investigation is on and new revelations are happening, this is being investigated.

Giving details of the modus operandi the DRI claimed that A-2 Raju is a US citizen who would procure the gold in Dubai and make a declaration of him either visiting, Geneva or Thailand, but later hand it over to Rao who would smuggle it in Bangalore.

Further it was said that “They (A-1, A-2) have travelled 31 times to Dubai and out of that 11 times we have revealed it. In the remand application it was given that 25 times, they A-1 and A-2 have gone to Dubai and came back the same day and not cancelled tickets to Geneva.”

Accused No. 2 Tarun Raju's counsel countered the claim of DRI by saying, “Gold can be purchased by anyone in Dubai and it can be taken anywhere. They have no problem, only they have to inform the customs department and show receipt of purchase of gold.”

Further it was submitted that “He need not hand over the gold to A-1, she could have purchased it in Dubai on her own. I am being implicated in the case only because I have a company with her.”

To a question put by the court that it is argued by DRI that money used by Raju  to purchase the gold was funded by A-1 (Rao), the counsel said “The statement's veracity has to be gone into during the trial. It also needs corroboration.”

He further added “Even If i take the statement on its face value, if customs duty is not paid by A-1 then A-2 cannot be held responsible. Only allegation against me is that I have travelled to Dubai and handed over gold to A-1 and she has not paid duty. To support this other than the statement recorded there is nothing else against A-2.”

Seeking bail the counsel argued that “I have not dealt with or tried to evade taxes. I am not the person who was carrying the gold. The only allegation is that I have given the gold to A-1 (Rao) in Dubai.”

Refuting the submission of DRI that he was arrested on trying to flee the country the counsel contended that he was summoned by the agency and he voluntarily appeared before it and after recording his statement he was arrested.

Finally it was contended that grounds of arrest were not supplied to his relatives in writing but informed on telephone.

Senior Advocate Sandesh Chouta appearing for Rao had earlier argued that objections filed by the DRI about not cooperating with the investigation, being a flight risk and being highly influential.

He said “Considering the fact that she has been in custody for 48 days and she has been in JC, if they require to record my further statements i am available. For all these reasons no fruitful purpose will be served, and bail be granted to me.” The court will continue to hear the matter on Tuesday. 

Gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore were seized from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. A subsequent search of her home had yielded gold jewellery worth ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore. She has been charged for the offence u/s 135(1)(a) and 135(1)(b), 135 (1)(a)(i)(a) 135(1)(a)(i)(b), 135(1)(b)(i)(a), 135(1)(b)(i)(b) of the Customs Act. Sec.104(4)(a), 104(4)(b), 104(6)(a) and 104(6)(c) of the Act.

Case Title: Harshavardini Ranya Rao AND Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Tarun Konduru Raju AND Directorate of Revenue Intelligence

Case No: Criminal Petition 5047/2025 c/w Criminal Petition 5432/2025