Before smuggling operations, Ranya Rao lost ₹2 crore in failed Africa gold deal, probe reveals

Details in the gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao, reveal that she and an associate were earlier duped of nearly ₹2 crore while attempting to source gold from Africa. According to findings cited in the Enforcement Directorate’s charge sheet, the failed deal occurred before the pair began their later smuggling operations through Dubai. Investigators said Rao and her associate, Tarun Konduru Raju, had initially tried to procure gold directly from African countries including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. To facilitate the plan, they reportedly set up a Dubai-based company named Vira Diamonds Trading LLC and contacted a Uganda-based agent for a trial supply of gold.

As part of the arrangement, payments were made in advance, including an initial deposit and additional charges for taxes and fees. However, the promised consignment was never delivered. When the associate later travelled to Kampala to meet the agent, he was allegedly shown gold but was asked to pay a further ₹1.7 crore to release the shipment, revealing the deal to be a scam. By then, the pair had already lost over ₹2 crore.

After the failed attempt, investigators say the group changed strategy and began sourcing gold from traders in Dubai instead of importing it directly from African mines. Authorities allege that the wider smuggling network eventually brought more than 127 kg of gold worth over ₹102 crore into India through illegal channels before the racket was exposed.