From airport arrest to chargesheet, Rs 100 crore gold smuggling case tightened its grip on Ranya Rao.

New Delhi . Taking a big step, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against former actress and model (Harshavardhini Ranya) alias Ranya Rao in the gold smuggling case worth more than Rs 102 crore. This charge sheet has been filed in the special court of Bengaluru and it also includes the names of other accused.

According to ED, this case pertains to large-scale gold smuggling and the money laundering network associated with it. Tarun Konduru and Sahil Sakaria Jain have also been made accused in this case. The agency has filed a prosecution complaint under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The investigation began after a complaint was filed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Based on this, the Central Bureau of Investigation had registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Justice Code and Prevention of Corruption Act. Based on the same FIR, the Enforcement Directorate started investigation from the angle of money laundering.

The case is of March 3, 2025 when Ranya Rao was caught at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. About 14.213 kg of foreign origin gold was recovered from them, the value of which was estimated at Rs 12.56 crore. This recovery proved to be the beginning of the revelation of this entire network.

In the subsequent search operation, the officials also seized gold jewelery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency worth Rs 2.67 crore. Investigating agencies claim that this was not just a consignment but was part of an organized racket which was active for a long time.

According to the ED report, a total of 127.287 kg of gold was brought into India illegally between March 2024 and March 2025, whose estimated value is Rs 102.55 crore. This gold was smuggled into the country through various means and an attempt was made to show the money earned from it as legitimate.

Earlier, DRI had also filed a prosecution complaint under Section 135 of the Customs Act. Now after the filing of ED’s charge sheet, the matter has become legally more serious. Charges are likely to be framed in further hearing in the special court and the trial process will begin.

This case once again shows how organized international gold smuggling networks work and how the investigating agencies are taking coordinated action under various laws. In the coming time, the court proceedings will decide the direction of this entire case.