ED seizes Rs 34.12 crore worth assets of actress Ranya Rao in gold smuggling case

In a major blow to Kannada actress Ranya Rao, currently lodged in Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara jail, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized properties worth Rs 34.12 crore in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling and hawala racket. The latest action comes months after Ranya was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in March while returning from Dubai, where officials confiscated 14.2 kg of illegal gold from her possession.

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Ranya, once known for her glamorous roles, has now earned notoriety as the central figure in a gold smuggling syndicate. The ED investigation revealed that she was involved in creating fake documents to smuggle gold into India and was also linked to illegal hawala transactions. Acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency has attached four properties registered in her name.

The seized assets include a luxury flat in Bengaluru’s Arkavathi Layout, commercial property in Tumakuru, agricultural land in Anekal, and another industrial property in the outskirts of Tumakuru. The total value of these properties amounts to Rs 34.12 crore. The ED suspects these assets were acquired using proceeds from illegal activities.

Sources indicate that Ranya has often caused disturbances within the prison, repeatedly claiming innocence and alleging she’s been framed. However, the mounting evidence against her paints a very different picture. Officials have hinted that further action could follow as the investigation continues to expose deeper financial links and possible collaborators.