Gold Smuggling Case: Ranya Rao, Virat Konduru Travelled Together To Dubai On March 3, Returned Separately
Telugu actor Tarun Konduru Raju, also known as Virat Konduru, was arrested six days after Kannada actress Ranya Rao, 33, for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold from Dubai to Bengaluru.
A court heard that Konduru had travelled to Dubai at the same time as Rao to assist in the smuggling operation but returned to Hyderabad instead of the Karnataka capital.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which arrested both actors, has alleged that Konduru, 30, "abetted, aided, and assisted in smuggling activity to India" by helping Rao pass the gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore, through Dubai customs.
According to Indian Express, Konduru reportedly used his US passport to claim he was travelling to Geneva, while in reality, he handed over the gold to Rao at Dubai airport for her to smuggle into India.
The DRI established the connection between the two actors during bail arguments in a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru. Investigators stated that Konduru's US citizenship was exploited by Rao to facilitate the smuggling. "He, being a US citizen, played a key role in the operation, as per the investigation. After clearing Dubai customs, the gold was smuggled into India. Both actors returned on different flights," argued senior DRI counsel Madhu N Rao.
"The Geneva destination was merely a pretext for declaring the gold in Dubai. This highlights the sophistication of the operation," the DRI counsel stated. The court was also informed that Rao had transferred money to Konduru for booking his Dubai tickets on 3rd March, the same day she travelled.
According to the DRI, both actors entered Dubai airport on 3rd March, with Konduru clearing customs by claiming to travel to Geneva. He then allegedly passed the gold to Rao, who concealed it on her person to smuggle it to Bengaluru. While Konduru had a ticket to Geneva, he instead boarded a flight to Hyderabad, whereas Rao flew to Bengaluru on a separate flight.
Konduru was not detained alongside Rao due to his different travel plans. His involvement surfaced after investigators analysed Rao's mobile phone and laptop. "The purpose of A2's presence in Dubai was to hand over the gold to A1," the DRI counsel stated in court.
Once Konduru's role was established, a lookout circular was issued, leading to his interception by immigration authorities in Hyderabad while attempting to leave India. He subsequently appeared before the DRI in Bengaluru on 8th March in response to a summons and was arrested the following day after interrogation.
"Our contention is that he abetted, aided, and assisted in the smuggling activity," argued Madhu Rao while opposing bail. The DRI also claimed that Konduru was used by Rao "to declare in Dubai that the gold was being transported to Geneva/Bangkok."
The DRI has alleged that Konduru booked tickets for Geneva and Bangkok from Dubai but never travelled to these destinations, using them solely for customs declarations to facilitate gold smuggling. The two actors are suspected to be part of a larger gold smuggling syndicate and are believed to have trafficked gold into India multiple times using the same method. The court was informed that they had travelled to Dubai together at least 25 times before.
During searches at Rao's Bengaluru residence following her arrest on 3rd March, the DRI recovered two declarations made to Dubai customs in 2024 for gold consignments to Geneva. "They had a business in Dubai. We have records of financial transfers to Dubai, gold purchases, declarations made in Dubai, and how the gold was brought into India," the DRI counsel argued. "We are uncovering international links, and releasing the accused would be detrimental to the investigation."
Senior counsel M M Devaraja, representing Konduru, challenged his arrest, contending that no gold was found in his possession and that Rao had not named him in her statements. He argued for bail, citing a lack of substantial evidence and pointing out that the offence carries a maximum sentence of seven years. Devaraja also noted that Konduru had not attempted to flee the country and had fully cooperated with the DRI when summoned.
Konduru, a US citizen by birth, returned to India with his family following his father's death and now holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. The special court has reserved its ruling on his bail plea. On 14th March, the court denied bail to Rao, citing her possession of a UAE Resident Identity Card and her frequent travels to Dubai.
The DRI has alleged that Rao evaded ₹4.83 crore in customs duties while attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg of gold, valued at ₹12.56 crore, into Bengaluru. Investigators also seized ₹2.67 crore in cash and ₹2.07 crore in jewellery from her home. While Rao initially claimed she had received the gold from a stranger outside Dubai airport, the investigation suggests she played an active role in the smuggling operation beyond that of a mere courier.
Rao is said to have travelled to Dubai 27 times since January. On 3rd March, when she was arrested, she flew from Bengaluru to Dubai at 4 am and returned the same day with the gold, landing in Bengaluru at 6:20 pm. The DRI has alleged that she and Konduru made as many as 25 one-day trips to Dubai. She has stated that she worked as a "real estate freelancer" in Dubai to justify her frequent travel.
Actors with Limited Success in Films
Ranya Rao is the stepdaughter of K. Ramachandra Rao, a 1993-batch IPS officer and director-general of police in Karnataka. She is alleged to have used the VIP services available to her stepfather at Bengaluru airport to smuggle gold ingots strapped to her body.
The IPS officer-believed to have close ties with Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara-was placed on "compulsory leave" on 15th March amid multiple central agency investigations into the smuggling network.
Ranya and Konduru, who have known each other for over a decade, are reported to have been business partners in a diamond trading company in the UAE. Much of the Dubai documentation for gold consignments was allegedly handled through this firm.
Central agencies are also investigating claims that the duo was involved in importing and selling gold in Dubai from Thailand, Switzerland, and Africa. The DRI has indicated in court that payments for gold consignments were routed through hawala channels from India to enable the smuggling operation.
Neither actor has had a particularly successful film career. Ranya made her debut in 2014 at the age of 22 in the Kannada film 'Manikya', appearing in only three films since. Konduru, from a prominent Andhra-origin business family with interests in hospitality, education, power, and cable TV, debuted as a hero in the 2018 film 'Parichayam' but failed to achieve significant success.
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