Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: Actor imposed with Rs 102 cr penalty

NEW DELHI: Kannada actor Ranya Rao has been imposed with a fine of Rs 102 crore in the gold smuggling case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said. Along with her, three others were also imposed a fine of over Rs 50 crore. The DRI officials on Tuesday served the penalty notice running 2,500 pages to the actress and others presently in the Bengaluru Central Jail.

The actor was caught with 14.8 kg of gold on March 3 at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on her arrival from Dubai.

Rao and others were served the notice inside the jail and they were also warned that if they don't pay the fine, their properties could be attached.

The Ranya Rao case became a high-profile one as Rao is the stepdaughter of senior IPS officer Dr K Ramachandra Rao. He was sent on leave after the smuggling case surfaced. It was revoked later.

Investigations revealed that Rao made frequent trips to Dubai (up to 52 between 2023 and early 2025) and allegedly used police escorts to avoid customs screenings. Gold jewellery worth ₹2 crore and cash totalling ₹2.67 crore were also recovered from her residence. Rao alleged severe maltreatment in DRI custody, claiming she was slapped multiple times (10–15 times), denied food and sleep, and coerced into signing voluminous documents, including blank pages.

Following Ranya Rao's arrest, her husband Jatin Hukkeri came on the radar. Hukkeri sought legal relief by applying for exemption from arrest, citing that they had separated about a month after their marriage, around December 2024 -- highlighting that they were living apart at the time the case unfolded. The Karnataka High Court granted temporary protection, preventing any immediate action against him until the next hearing.