Ranya Rao's Case Gets Murkier By The Day
Already multiple agencies, including DRI, CBI and DPAR, are probing this case in different angles.
After DRI (Directorate of Revenue Intelligence), CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), CID (Criminal Investigation Department) and DPAR (Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms), now the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has joined the investigation into the high-profile gold smuggling case involving Kannada film actor Ranya Rao, making it a multi-agency probe.
The ED, responsible for tackling money laundering and foreign exchange violations, is currently conducting raids in eight locations in Bengaluru and other places as part of the probe.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was also conducting raids at nine locations across Bengaluru, targeting the flats and properties of Ranya Rao’s husband, Jatin Vijaykumar Hukkeri. As Ranya was using Hukkeri's credit card to book her Dubai round trips, the investigating agencies suspect his involvement in the smuggling case.
On Tuesday, Jatin obtained an interim order from the High Court restraining the DRI from arresting him.
In a surprising turn of event, the Karnataka Government revoked its earlier directive for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the police department's involvement and potential lapses by police officers at the airport in this connection. Defending the sudden change, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, "I had ordered the CID to investigate the case. However, at the same time, the Chief Minister had directed the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms to conduct an investigation (DPAR), as DGP K. Ramachandra Rao (Ranya Rao's stepfather) is an IPS officer. Since two parallel investigations were not necessary, we decided to withdraw the CID probe."
The development follows the arrest of Ranya Rao by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Bengaluru Airport on March 3, 2025, with approximately 14 kg of gold worth crores strapped to her body. The DRI has since enlisted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to assist in the case.
The CBI has registered a First Information Report (FIR) based on a complaint filed by Abhishek Chandra Gupta, Additional Director of DRI. Gupta's complaint suggests the existence of a possible smuggling ring operating from Dubai, especially after two foreign nationals were apprehended with 21.28 kg of gold at Mumbai Airport on March 6, shortly after Rao's arrest.
In a statement, K Ramachandra Rao - stepfather of Ranya Rao - expressed his anguish over the controversy, saying, "No words can truly express the depth of my shock, pain, and devastation by the recent developments. This is an extremely difficult time for my family and me, and we are struggling to process it. If there is any violation of law on the part of Ranya, the law will take its course."
