Gold, Lies, and Dubai: The Ranya Rao Scandal
• Actor or Smuggler? Ranya Rao’s Shocking Secret
• Ranya Rao’s Gold Empire Exposed!
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has unearthed shocking details in the gold smuggling case involving actor Ranya Rao. Contrary to her claim of being an innocent mule, investigations have revealed that she was running a Dubai-based company, Vira Diamonds Trading LLC, allegedly facilitating large-scale gold smuggling into India.
Ranya was caught on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) with 14.2 kg of gold in her possession. Initially, she told the authorities that she was forced into carrying the consignment by an unknown man who contacted her via VoIP calls. However, Sprouts News has learned that DRI officials have discovered strong evidence linking her directly to the smuggling operation. In a letter to the DRI chief, Ranya alleged that she was framed and that officials had forcibly taken her signature on the seizure report.
Further investigations led to the arrest of actor Tarun Raju on March 11. Tarun, the grandson of a prominent city hotelier, was named as the second accused in the case. According to the DRI’s remand application, he and Ranya were college friends who later co-founded Vira Diamonds Trading LLC in Dubai. Though both held an equal 50% stake, Ranya was the primary investor, funneling between ₹8 lakh and ₹10 lakh from her HDFC bank account. Tarun, meanwhile, acted as a working partner, with his investment reportedly covered by Ranya.
Sprouts News has learned that Ranya’s company provided her with a resident card in Dubai, granting her visa-free access to the UAE. The company was engaged in importing gold from Geneva and Bangkok, where she had established strong business ties through family connections. While records indicated that the gold was being sold in Dubai, authorities now suspect that Ranya was smuggling it into India. In the past year alone, she made at least 27 trips, allegedly bringing undeclared gold into the country.
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In a significant development, the DRI found that Ranya and Tarun’s company had been defrauded of ₹1.7 crore in a failed gold transaction. Investigators believe this payment was routed through hawala channels from India to Dubai. Additionally, documents recovered from Ranya’s residence on Lavelle Road revealed Dubai Customs declarations from November 13 and December 20, 2024. These documents stated that gold was being transported to Geneva, but evidence now suggests that the shipments were diverted to India instead.
The unfolding scandal has sent shockwaves through the industry, with authorities intensifying their probe into potential links between the accused and other smuggling networks. As new details continue to emerge, Sprouts News will remain at the forefront, bringing the latest updates on this high-profile case.