Gold Smugglers

Gold smuggling case: Actress Ranya Rao admits to using hawala channels

Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao who was arrested in a gold smuggling case, has admitted to using hawala channels for purchases, the prosecution argued before a special court on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the court reserved its order on the actress' bail plea until March 27, following a detailed hearing of arguments from both the defence and the prosecution. According to the prosecution, Rao admitted to using hawala channels to facilitate gold purchases, a claim that strengthens the case against her. During the proceedings, Rao's counsel Kiran Jawali argued for her release, while the counsel appearing for the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Madhu Rao, presented evidence suggesting her direct role in the illicit transfer of funds. As part of the legal process, officials have invoked Section 108 of the Customs Act, which mandates a judicial inquiry. Authorities clarified that this is not a police interrogation but a judicial investigation to scrutinise financ

Probe confirms allegations of police protocol misuse by actress Ranya Rao

The probe into the possible role of DGP-rank officer K Ramachandra Rao in the gold smuggling case has lent credence to the DRI's allegations that his stepdaughter, Ranya Rao, misused police protocols, sources said on Thursday. According to official sources, during the inquiry by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, a detailed analysis of records at Bengaluru airport revealed that the Kannada actress had misused police protocol services during her foreign travels, particularly upon her arrival at Kempegowda International Airport from Dubai. Analysis of CCTV footage at the airport further indicated that she availed herself of the DGP-rank officer's protocol services every time she arrived from Dubai at Bengaluru airport, the sources added. The Karnataka government sent the DGP-rank officer on compulsory leave on Saturday. Recently, the senior IPS officer was questioned in connection with the gold smuggling case. His statement was subsequently recorded by the investigating team le

Court denies bail to Kannada actress Ranya Rao in gold smuggling case

A Special Court of Economic Offences here on Friday rejected the bail plea of gold smuggling accused Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao.The second accused in the case, Tarun Raju, has been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days as probe continues. Ranya, stepdaughter of DGP rank officer K Ramachandra Rao, is presently lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Jail here. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore from Ranya at Kempegowda International Airport when she arrived here from Dubai on March 3. Subsequent searches conducted by DRI at her residence led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. During interrogation, authorities discovered that Tarun Raju was involved in facilitating the smuggling operation, allegedly coordinating the gold's transport and distribution within India. Both were taken into custody and booked under relevant sections of the Customs Act ..

Gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao was allotted land for steel plant: KIADB

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) on Sunday said Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous government in February 2023. The board was reacting to reports that a company linked to the actor was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the KIADB in 2023. Sensing that the case was taking a political turn, the office of Minister for Medium and Large Industries M B Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district. The Congress came to power after defeating the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly polls in May 2023. The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars,

Shocked and devastated: DGP Ramachandra Rao on daughter Ranya Rao's arrest

Ranya, the stepdaughter of DGP Rao, was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) upon arrival from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Monday night

Gold smuggling drops significantly after July import duty cut: CBIC chief

Gold smuggling has reduced significantly since July 2024 when the government slashed import duty on the precious metal to 6 per cent, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said. As per the latest available data, Customs and DRI officers seized 847 kg of gold worth Rs 544 crore at various airports in the April-June period of the current fiscal. In July, the government reduced customs duty on gold to 6 per cent from 15 per cent. "After the rate of duty was reduced on gold in the last year's budget, there is a significant reduction in the smuggling of gold," Agarwal told PTI in an interview. Although Agarwal did not reveal the quantum or value of gold seizures, he said authorities are keeping regular watch over the international passenger traffic, porous borders, and commercial cargoes coming into the country to cut the smuggling of narcotics through any route. Smuggling is the secret movement of goods across national borders to avoid custom

What action taken by state govt, CM against gold smugglers: Kerala Guv

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday asked what action has been taken by the ruling Left government or Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who holds the "reins of power", against the groups smuggling gold into the state and using money from it for "anti-national activities". Khan said that he came to know about this development only after reading what Vijayan told a newspaper, but the CM has access to all the information about it. "He (Vijayan) should come forward and tell us what action has been taken by the government against the gold smugglers who have indulged in anti-national activities. "He is holding the reins of power. He cannot just talk to the press and take no action. Why has no action been taken? Whose fault is it if action is not being taken? It is a serious matter. I have read about it only today," the Governor told reporters here. He further said that when he returns to Thiruvananthapuram, he will seek a report from the government on the issue. "I would like t

Delhi Customs detains Shashi Tharoor's aide in alleged gold smuggling case

A passenger travelling from Dubai attempted to deliver over 500 gms of gold to Tharoor's aide at Delhi International Airport. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor respond

FM Nirmala Sitharaman seeks global help to nab smuggling masterminds

Export-import frauds threaten the global supply chain and are inimical to economic and national security

Gulf migrants tapped to smuggle gold, narcotics spike surprise officials

The annual report for 2021-22 released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman goes into granular details of how smuggling has massively diversified

DRI reports 11 cases of gold seizures in North East Corridor during Sept

The recent gold seizures in the North East by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) indicate a spurt in the smuggling of gold through the NE borders of Bangladesh and Myanmar

4.33 kg smuggled gold seized at Hyderabad airport, says Customs dept

Smuggled gold weighing a total of over 4 kg was seized at the airport here in two separate incidents, the Customs department said on Friday

In pandemic, it's not gold but cigarettes where smugglers are making money

Even as Covid protocols restrict international and domestic transport, the cross border crime syndicates continue to make big money by smuggling truck loads of 'sin goods' into India

Travel curbs in India thwart gold smugglers; boost premium legal imports

India suspended long-distance trains and international flights in March as part of the lockdown of its 1.3 billion population to contain the spread of novel coronavirus

Govt likely to soon bring gold amnesty scheme to unearth black money

The tax will have to be paid on entire value of gold declared by an individual that has been purchased without any receipt

Spike in gold smuggling via SEZs under lens; PMO seeks Customs report

The report should contain details about official gold imports, its usage in the domestic market, smuggling trends, possible curbs to mitigate the negative impact of gold imports on the trade deficit

India's seizures of smuggled gold jumps in June quarter: Official

The illegal trade could rise further in coming months as India, the world's second biggest gold consumer, raised an import tax on gold by 2.5 percentage points to 12.5% in July's federal budget

Gold smugglers now prefer Europe over Gulf countries: Customs

Recent cases of gold seizure show that smugglers are opting for the European route and newer modus operandi

Indian gold smugglers now prefer Europe over Gulf countries: Customs

Recent cases of gold seizure show that smugglers are opting for the European route and newer modus operandi, says customs officials

Gold smugglers more margin-savvy

Hawala cost down, bars increasingly being replaced with unofficially imported jewellery