Kannada actor Ranya Rao has been ordered to pay a penalty of around ₹89 crore by the Customs Department in connection with the alleged gold-smuggling case that came to light in Bengaluru in March 2025. The action follows a detailed 399-page adjudication order issued by Customs Joint Director Sandeep.
According to reports on the Customs proceedings, Rao has been penalised ₹89.91 crore, while three other accused persons have also been fined. Tarun Konduru Raju was penalised ₹49.51 crore, while Sahil Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain were each fined ₹53.06 crore. Together, the penalties against the four accused exceed ₹244 crore.
What Does the Customs Order Say?
The Customs investigation examined alleged gold-smuggling activities between March 7, 2024, and February 18, 2025. According to the department’s findings reported by multiple news outlets, approximately 113 kg of gold was allegedly brought into India from Dubai through an organised network involving Rao and the other accused.
The case originally came to public attention on March 3, 2025, when Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials intercepted Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru following her arrival from Dubai. Officials reportedly recovered 14.213 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at approximately ₹12.56 crore at the time.
Investigators subsequently searched her residence. The Enforcement Directorate had reported the seizure of approximately ₹2.67 crore in cash and gold jewellery valued at around ₹2.06 crore during the investigation.
Why Is the Penalty Important?
The latest order represents a significant development in the Customs proceedings. The department has determined separate financial penalties for the four accused based on its findings regarding their alleged roles in the gold-smuggling network.
However, it is important to distinguish a Customs adjudication order from a criminal conviction. The ₹89-crore-plus amount is a penalty imposed through Customs proceedings concerning alleged violations; the underlying allegations and the accused persons’ legal remedies remain subject to the applicable judicial process.
Ranya Rao had earlier been arrested in connection with the case and subsequently faced preventive detention proceedings under the COFEPOSA Act. Reports state that she was released from custody in April 2026 after completing the period of preventive detention.
The latest Customs order therefore adds a major financial dimension to a case that has been under investigation since 2025.
