In a major development in Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s gold smuggling case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has informed a special court for economic offences in Bengaluru. According to the DRI, on March 3, Telugu actor Tarun Konduru Raju, also known as Virat Konduru, traveled to the UAE alongside Ranya Rao to assist in the smuggling operation. However, instead of returning to Bengaluru, he flew back to Hyderabad. Raju was arrested six days after 33-year-old actress Ranya Rao was taken into custody for allegedly smuggling 14.2 kg of gold from Dubai to Bengaluru.
According to an Indian Express report, The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which arrested the actors, alleges that Konduru, 30, “abetted, aided and assisted in the smuggling activity to India” by helping Rao pass the gold, valued at Rs 12.56 crore, through Dubai customs. He used his US passport to claim he was travelling to Geneva while actually passing the gold to Rao at Dubai airport for her to smuggle to India.
The DRI brought out the connection between the two actors and their travel during bail arguments in the special court for economic offences in Bengaluru. DRI also said that Konduru’s US citizenship was reportedly utilised by Rao to facilitate the smuggling. “He, being a US citizen, according to the investigation, facilitated the smuggling activity. After crossing Dubai customs, the gold was smuggled to India. Both returned to India by different flights,” argued senior DRI counsel Madhu N Rao.
Furthermore, the counsel informed the court that Konduru received money from Ranya Rao for booking his Dubai tickets on March 3, the same day when the actress travelled.
Both Actors Travelled Together on March 3
The publisher reported that The DRI counsel explained that the two actors entered Dubai airport on March 3, with Konduru passing the gold through customs by claiming to travel to Geneva. After handing over the gold to Ranya Rao, she hid it on her person to smuggle it into Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Konduru, who was originally booked on a flight to Geneva, changed his plans at the last moment and flew to Hyderabad instead, while Rao took a separate flight to Bengaluru. His involvement emerged after the DRI analysed Rao’s mobile phone and laptop. “The purpose of the presence of A2 in Dubai was to hand over the gold to A1,” the DRI counsel informed the court.
52 Trips To Dubai In 2 Years
As per DRI, Ranya Rao made 52 trips to Dubai between 2023 and March 2025. DRI also informrd the court that the actress was accompanied by Raju on at least 26 of them and they suspect that these same-day return journeys were used to smuggle gold into India.
Senior counsel M.M. Devaraja, representing Konduru, challenged his arrest, questioning why he was taken into custody when no gold was found in his possession and Ranya Rao hadn’t named him in her statements after her arrest. He argued that the case against Konduru lacked substantial evidence, pointing out that the alleged offence carries a maximum prison term of seven years and that a strong case had not been established. Emphasizing his client’s cooperation, Devaraja stressed that Konduru had not attempted to flee the country and had willingly responded to the DRI’s summons.
