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ED Files PMLA Chargesheet Against Actor Ranya Rao in Alleged 127 kg Gold-Laundering Case

The ED describes a racket that sold smuggled gold locally before routing cash through hawala to appear legitimate.

Overview

  • The prosecution complaint, filed in a Bengaluru special court, names Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru and Sahil Sakariya Jain for the offence of money laundering under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA.
  • Investigators allege 127.287 kg of foreign-origin gold worth about ₹102.55 crore was smuggled into India between March 2024 and March 2025.
  • The case stems from a DRI interception of Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, 2025 with 14.213 kg of gold, followed by recoveries of gold jewellery and ₹2.67 crore in Indian currency.
  • The ED says assets worth ₹34.12 crore in Ranya’s name were provisionally attached in July 2025 after searches at 16 Karnataka locations in May 2025 seized documents, devices and currency.
  • The money-laundering probe is based on a CBI FIR lodged after a DRI complaint, with the DRI also filing a prosecution complaint under the Customs Act; Ranya is reported to be in Bengaluru Central Prison.