Kannada actress Ranya Rao is being investigated for gold smuggling, with authorities looking into three companies linked to her for possible money laundering. Ranya was arrested after being found with over 14 kg of gold, and her frequent trips to Dubai have raised suspicions. Investigators are also examining her financial transactions and possible connections to a hawala network, involving her family members as co-directors.
The gold smuggling case involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao has led to a closer look at her business activities. Authorities have found three companies connected to Ranya that are now being investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Ranya Rao’s Three Companies Under Investigation
According to a report by Deccan Herald, the three companies linked to Ranya Rao are: Ranya Rao Photography Pvt Ltd, Ayrus Greens Pvt Ltd, and Ksiroda India Pvt Ltd.
- Ranya Rao Photography Pvt Ltd was started in 2020, with Ranya claiming to be a wildlife photographer.
- Ayrus Greens Pvt Ltd, founded in 2021, focuses on agriculture, especially cereal farming.
- Ksiroda India Pvt Ltd, originally called Bioenzo India Pvt Ltd, was set up in 2022 to make steel products.
All three companies are registered at the same address in Bengaluru and each has an authorized capital of Rs 10 lakh.
Investigating agencies believe that these companies could be fake businesses used for money laundering and hiding financial activities. The DRI and ED are looking into the companies’ reports, balance sheets, and bank statements to find any connections to the gold smuggling network. The investigation is also checking if any other suspicious companies were registered after 2020.
Ranya Rao’s Family Members Under Investigation
Ranya Rao’s family members are also being looked into. Her mother, Rohini, is a co-director in Ayrus Greens Pvt Ltd and Ranya Rao Photography Pvt Ltd. Her brother, Rushab, is a co-director in Ksiroda India Pvt Ltd.
Ranya Rao Arrested For Gold Smuggling
Ranya Rao, a Kannada actor, was arrested on March 4, 2025, for allegedly trying to smuggle 14.8 kilograms of gold worth Rs 12 crore into India. She was caught at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport while returning from Dubai. The actress was also denied bail. Ranya even claimed that DRI officers slapped her multiple times, denied her food, and made her sign blank documents. In a letter to the Additional Director General of DRI, Ranya said she is innocent and was wrongly involved in the case.
As per DRI, Ranya Rao made 52 trips to Dubai between 2023 and March 2025. DRI also informed 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.
