Bengaluru, October 3, 2026: The alleged gold smuggling network linked to Kannada actor Harshavardini Ranya Rao has come under renewed scrutiny after the Customs Department imposed penalties totalling ₹270.8 crore on four people. The order, issued on September 30, concerns the alleged movement of more than 127 kilograms of gold from Dubai into India between March 2024 and March 2025.
According to the Customs order, the gold was valued at approximately ₹102.5 crore. Ranya Rao has been held responsible for the entire quantity and has been fined ₹102.5 crore. The three other individuals named in the order are Tarun Konduru Raju, Sahil Sakariya Jain and Bharath Kumar Jain.
The penalties imposed on them are ₹62.1 crore, ₹53.1 crore and ₹53.1 crore, respectively. The department’s findings describe their alleged roles in transporting, handling and selling the gold, as well as arranging payments connected with the transactions.
Investigation Began With Airport Seizure
The case came to light on March 3, 2025, when the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted Ranya Rao at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after her arrival from Dubai. Officials seized 14.213 kilograms of foreign-origin gold, estimated to be worth around ₹12.56 crore.
The seizure prompted a wider investigation into her travel history and possible links with other individuals. Investigators subsequently examined earlier consignments and financial transactions to establish whether the airport seizure was part of a larger operation.
The Customs order reportedly reconstructs 14 previous consignments using travel records, statements, digital material, financial information and other evidence. The department has alleged that the total quantity brought into India through the network reached 127.287 kilograms.
Alleged Roles of the Other Individuals
The order assigns different responsibilities to the three other people named in the case. Tarun Konduru Raju is alleged to have helped manage documentation and the handover of gold in Dubai. Sahil Sakariya Jain and Bharath Kumar Jain are alleged to have assisted with the disposal of gold in India and the arrangement of payments.
According to the investigation, the gold was sold in the domestic market through handlers and jewellers. The proceeds were allegedly collected in cash and settled through hawala channels in India and abroad.
These findings form the basis of the department’s action. The individuals named in the case may contest the allegations and the conclusions recorded in the adjudication order through the legal process.
ED’s Money-Laundering Investigation
The Enforcement Directorate has also investigated the alleged financial network under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In February 2026, the agency said it had filed a prosecution complaint before a special PMLA court in Bengaluru against Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru Raju and Sahil Sakariya Jain.
The ED stated that its investigation identified 127.287 kilograms of allegedly smuggled gold, valued at approximately ₹102.55 crore, during the period under review. It also alleged that proceeds from the sale of gold were routed through multiple accounts and entities to make them appear legitimate.
The agency’s findings and the Customs penalties represent investigative and adjudicatory developments; they should not be treated as a final criminal conviction.
Case Draws Attention to Cross-Border Gold Trade
The case has highlighted the challenges faced by enforcement agencies in tracing alleged cross-border smuggling and financial transactions. Investigators have examined not only the movement of gold but also the network of intermediaries and payment channels allegedly involved.
With penalties exceeding ₹270 crore, the Customs order marks a significant development in the case. Further legal proceedings will determine how the findings are challenged and what consequences follow for those named.
