4 hrs ago
Ranya Rao Gold Case Brings ₹89.91 Crore Customs Penalty
Ranya Rao was stopped at Bengaluru airport after arriving from Dubai.
Officials found 14.213 kilograms of gold hidden on her body, clothes, and footwear.
They also found cash and jewellery during a search of her home.
Investigators later said the airport seizure might be connected to a larger operation.
They alleged that more than 113 kilograms of gold entered India through the network.
Customs issued a long, 399-page order after examining travel, financial, electronic, and CCTV evidence.
Ranya was ordered to pay ₹89.91 crore.
Three other accused also received large penalties.
The accused disputed some evidence, and separate criminal proceedings are still continuing.
Kannada actor Ranya Rao was ordered to pay a ₹89.91 crore Customs penalty.
The order concerns alleged smuggling of more than 113 kg of gold from Dubai to India.
Three other accused were penalised, bringing the combined penalties above ₹244 crore.
The case began after 14.213 kg of foreign-origin gold was seized at Bengaluru airport on March 3, 2025.
Ranya and the other accused challenged parts of the evidence, but Customs rejected their objections.
- Who
- Kannada actor Ranya Rao and three other accused: Tarun Konduru Raju, Sahil Jain, and Bharat Kumar Jain.
- What
- Customs imposed penalties exceeding ₹244 crore over an alleged gold-smuggling network; Ranya Rao’s penalty is ₹89.91 crore.
- Where
- The seizure occurred at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after Ranya Rao arrived from Dubai.
- When
- The alleged smuggling occurred between March 2024 and February 2025; the airport seizure occurred on March 3, 2025.
- Why
- Customs alleged that the accused participated in repeatedly bringing gold into India and distributing it through a wider network.
Customs’ allegations
Accused persons’ objections
Evidence and statements
Customs’ allegations
Customs relied on travel records, financial transactions, electronic evidence, airport CCTV footage, and investigation statements to support its findings.
Accused persons’ objections
Ranya Rao and the other accused disputed or retracted statements relied upon by Customs and questioned portions of the airport CCTV footage.
Role in the alleged network
Customs’ allegations
Authorities alleged that Ranya Rao played a central role in transporting gold and that the other accused handled different stages of the operation.
Accused persons’ objections
The accused contested aspects of the investigation and the evidence used in the adjudication proceedings.
Effect of the Customs order
Customs’ allegations
Customs imposed financial penalties after its adjudication process and rejected the objections raised against its evidence.
Accused persons’ objections
The accused still face wider criminal and other proceedings, meaning the Customs order does not conclude all legal matters.
Key facts
- Ranya Rao’s penalty
- ₹89.91 crore
- Combined penalties
- More than ₹244 crore for four accused
- Gold seized at airport
- 14.213 kg, valued at approximately ₹12.56 crore
- Alleged gold smuggled
- More than 113 kg between March 2024 and February 2025
- Home search recovery
- Approximately ₹2.67 crore in cash and ₹2.06 crore in gold jewellery
- Customs order
- 399 pages
- Earlier demand
- Approximately ₹102.55 crore served on Ranya Rao in September 2025
Sources
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