Police shocked by Ranya Rao's mobile contacts! Star hotel owner arrested for buying smuggled gold

In a shocking development, star hotel owner Tarun Raj has been arrested for allegedly purchasing smuggled gold from actress Ranya Rao. The case, which has sparked widespread attention, took a dramatic turn when Ranya broke down in court, pleading her innocence. The verdict on her bail plea is expected to be announced today.
The controversy began on March 3, when Ranya returned to Bengaluru from Dubai. Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Income Tax Investigation Department conducted a surprise search and arrested her for smuggling 14.8 kilograms of gold. According to Oneindia, during interrogation, Ranya Rao reportedly revealed that a group would provide her with information about travel plans, facilitating her role in the gold smuggling operation. She further admitted to wearing customized clothing to conceal the gold and used her claim of being the daughter of an ADGP to avoid security checks at the airport. Once she bypassed security, she would hand over the gold to an accomplice waiting outside.
Following her arrest, Ranya Rao was held in custody for three days for further questioning. During her court appearance, the presiding judge inquired whether she had faced any mistreatment during the investigation. Ranya stated that while she wasn’t physically harmed, she was threatened and coerced into giving a confession. However, officials refuted these claims, stating that all interrogations were conducted under CCTV surveillance and offered to submit the footage as evidence. The court also noted that any allegations of misconduct would be thoroughly investigated if credible proof emerged. Subsequently, the judge ordered Ranya to be remanded for 15 days as the investigation continued.
Further investigation into Ranya's mobile phone revealed that she had saved contact numbers of several politicians and police officials and was frequently in touch with them. Among her regular contacts was businessman and star hotel owner Tarun Raj. It was discovered that she had supplied him with smuggled gold on multiple occasions. When summoned for questioning, Tarun Raj failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding his connection to the gold smuggling operation. His vague responses led the Income Tax Investigation Department to arrest him.
Authorities also uncovered financial transactions linked to Tarun Raj’s business accounts, raising further suspicions about the extent of his involvement. Additionally, surveillance footage from his hotel is now under scrutiny to identify potential meetings and exchanges related to the smuggling activities. The case continues to unfold as authorities dig deeper into the network involved in the smuggling operations.

For the unversed, actress Ranya Rao was arrested on March 3 at Bengaluru Airport after arriving from Dubai with over 14 kg of gold worth crores. She was found with gold biscuits strapped to her body. During the investigation, she claimed it was her first attempt at smuggling gold.
As per the latest development, Kannada actress Ranya Rao has had her bail application rejected by a special court in Bengaluru. The decision was made on Friday, March 14, 2025, due to the seriousness of the charges against her. As per an India Today report, Rao claimed during questioning that she received instructions from unknown numbers to smuggle the gold. She admitted to learning how to conceal gold by watching YouTube videos and stated that this was her first smuggling attempt. The gold was allegedly handed over to her at Dubai Airport by a tall man in a gown. She reportedly earned Rs 1 lakh per kilogram of gold smuggled, amounting to Rs 1213 lakh per trip.
Ranya Rao's stepfather, DGP K Ramachandra Rao, has been sent on compulsory leave by the Karnataka government. This decision comes as part of a broader investigation into the misuse of VIP protocol privileges at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.
In latest update, Ranya Rao has written a five-page letter to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), asserting her innocence and alleging physical assault during interrogation.
As reported by The Indian Express, the handwritten letter, dated March 6, was sent through prison authorities and addressed to the Additional Director General of DRI in HBR Layout, Bengaluru.
In the letter, Ranya, who identifies herself as Harshavardhini Ranya, 33, and the wife of Jatin Hukkeri, claims she was wrongly implicated in the case. She states that she was arrested inside the aircraft without being given a chance to explain. Additionally, she alleges that during her detention, officials slapped her 10-15 times and coerced her into signing over 50 typed pages and 40 blank sheets under duress.