Saturday, March 29, 2025
Kannada Actress Ranya Rao Under ED Scanner in Gold Smuggling and Money Laundering Case
Multi-Crore Transactions, Fake Entries, and Hawala Links Exposed
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into a gold smuggling racket allegedly involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao, uncovering a complex web of financial irregularities, hawala transactions, and money laundering activities.
In a major breakthrough, the ED conducted search operations at 16 locations linked to individuals and entities suspected of being part of this illicit network. According to ED, the investigation has revealed serious violations of financial laws, including the layering of proceeds of crime.
🔹 Hawala Operators: Several hawala operatives admitted to facilitating illegal foreign exchange transactions for gold procurement and confessed to having direct dealings with Ranya Rao. Buyers have confirmed purchasing gold from her and reselling it to jewellers.
🔹 Fake Financial Entries: Entities providing accommodation entries—false records of transactions and consultation income—have acknowledged routing unsubstantiated funds to Ranya Rao’s accounts. One such entity falsely showed her as a supplier of construction labour and transferred several crores of rupees to her name.
🔹 Educational Trust Involvement: An educational trust reportedly diverted ₹40 lakh to pay off Ranya Rao’s credit card bills, allegedly under the instruction of an influential individual. However, the ED found no supporting documentation to justify the transaction.
🔹 Illegal Forex Transactions: Multiple individuals and companies have been found operating unauthorised foreign exchange businesses without RBI clearance, further entangling the actress in a wider financial network.
The ED has already traced proceeds of crime amounting to several crores and is now pursuing the money trail to determine the source and legitimacy of these funds. The investigation is ongoing, with more evidence and revelations expected in the coming days.
This case has cast a shadow over the film industry, as Ranya Rao becomes the latest high-profile figure to come under scrutiny in an alleged gold smuggling and money laundering scandal.
