Bengaluru hotelier’s grandson arrested in gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao; IPS officer stepfather under probe for airport protocol violation

DRI cracks down on gold smuggling racket in Bengaluru

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested Tarun Raju, grandson of the Atria Hotel owner, in connection with a gold smuggling case worth Rs.12.56 crore, involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao.

Ranya Rao caught smuggling gold from Dubai

On March 3, Ranya Rao was detained at Kempegowda International Airport (KIAD), Bengaluru, after she was found in possession of 14.8 kilograms of gold smuggled from Dubai.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI officials monitored her arrival at the airport and intercepted her with gold bars valued at Rs.12.56 crore. A subsequent raid at her Lavelle Road apartment led to the recovery of:

• Gold jewellery worth Rs.2.06 crore
• Indian currency worth Rs.2.67 crore

Tarun Raju’s arrest and connection to smuggling network

Following Ranya’s detention, the DRI traced her contacts and arrested Tarun Raju, who was suspected of being part of the smuggling racket. Despite reports of a fallout after Ranya’s marriage to architect Jatin Hukkeri, investigators believe Ranya and Raju continued their illegal activities together.

The investigation revealed that Ranya had contacted Tarun Raju while smuggling gold from Dubai, leading to his arrest. He was presented before the Special Economic Offences Court in Bengaluru, which granted the DRI five days of custody for further interrogation.

Court proceedings and allegations of harassment

Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for financial offences on March 4 and remanded to judicial custody until March 18.

During the proceedings, she alleged that DRI officials verbally harassed her during a three-day interrogation. However, the investigating officer (IO) refuted these claims, stating that all questioning was conducted in the presence of legal counsel and could be verified through CCTV footage.

The judge also questioned her claims, asking:

“You were given 30 minutes to consult your lawyer. Why didn’t you inform them? Why didn’t they file a petition about this?”

Stepfather and senior IPS officer under investigation

Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation’s DGP Ramachandra Rao. The Karnataka government has ordered an investigation into his possible role in the smuggling case. Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta will lead the probe to determine whether Rao misused his position to help Ranya evade security checks.

Officials suspect that Ranya exploited her stepfather’s influence to bypass customs scrutiny, particularly since she made four trips to Dubai within 15 days, raising red flags about a larger smuggling network.

Who is Ramachandra Rao?

Ramachandra Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer, currently serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.

Denying any connection to his stepdaughter’s activities, he stated:

“I have no connection to my daughter’s activities. She got married four months ago and hasn’t been in touch with us since. The law will take its own course.”

Rao’s career has been marked by controversy, including a 2014 money seizure case, where police allegedly confiscated Rs.20 lakh from a private bus in Mysuru, while merchants claimed the actual amount was Rs.2.27 crore, accusing the police of misappropriation.

What’s next?

With both Ranya Rao and Tarun Raju in custody, the DRI continues its probe to unravel the full extent of the smuggling network. Investigators are also scrutinizing possible high-profile connections in the racket, including protocol breaches at airports.

The case has triggered judicial scrutiny, political debates, and an internal police inquiry, making it one of the biggest gold smuggling busts in Karnataka in recent years.

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