Mon Apr 07 16:42:36 UTC 2025: ## Kannada Actress Ranya Rao’s Judicial Custody Extended in Multi-Agency Gold Smuggling Probe
**Bengaluru, April 3, 2024** – A special Bengaluru court extended the judicial custody of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, the main accused in a major gold smuggling case, until April 21. The court also extended the custody of co-accused Tarun Raju and jeweler Sahil Sakaria Jain until the same date. All three remain in Bengaluru Central Jail.
Rao, stepdaughter of senior police officer Ramchandra Rao, was arrested on March 3 for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kilograms of gold worth over Rs 12.56 crore. However, investigations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have uncovered a far larger operation.
The DRI alleges that Rao, in collusion with Jain, engaged in extensive hawala transactions, disposing of 49.6 kilograms of gold and transferring approximately Rs 38.4 crore to Dubai. Jain’s bail petition will be heard on April 9; Tarun Raju’s bail plea was rejected.
The state government has formed a special team to investigate the potential involvement of DGP Ramachandra Rao, and a report has been submitted. The ongoing investigation highlights a complex network of alleged gold smuggling and money laundering.
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