Not just gold smuggling, Ranya Rao planned a 'grand' jewellery store

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The gold smuggling case involving Sandalwood actor Ranya Rao has taken several intriguing and complex turns, unveiling new information and prompting inquiries into her activities. Recent reports suggest that Ranya is accused of aiding in the smuggling of gold by supplying it to others for profit. Despite her involvement in these illegal activities, she reportedly harbours ambitions of launching her jewellery store, rather than perpetually relying on the high-stakes world of gold smuggling for financial support.

According to credible sources, Ranya Rao had plans to establish a prominent jewellery store named ‘Grand Jewellers' in Bengaluru, indicating a potential transition from illegal endeavours to legitimate business ventures. This development underscores a significant shift in her perspective as she considers the possibility of creating a legitimate source of income within the jewellery sector. As the investigation into the gold smuggling case progresses, additional details regarding Ranya Rao’s travel history have emerged. Reports indicate that she has travelled internationally an astonishing 90 times since 2020, with a considerable number of these trips, specifically 60, originating from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. This frequent travel has raised concerns among authorities, who are closely examining her movements in relation to the smuggling operations. In addition to her extensive journeys originating from Bengaluru, Ranya has also taken 25 flights from Mumbai International Airport and made two trips each from Chennai and Hyderabad. Notably, she has travelled once from Kolkata as well.

Analyzing her travel patterns over the last five years indicates that 2024 is poised to be particularly important for her, with plans for 46 trips from Bengaluru to Dubai scheduled between January 2024 and March 2025. This frequency of travel has raised concerns, especially in light of investigators identifying a timeline for possible smuggling activities beginning on July 28, 2023. The manner in which Ranya Rao returned from Dubai within 24 hours after 51 of her trips has particularly caught the attention of law enforcement. The rapid turnaround times, combined with the high frequency of her visits, have sparked speculation regarding her potential involvement in gold smuggling and raised questions about the legality of her activities.

Authorities are eager to determine whether her travels are merely coincidental or if they are indeed connected to smuggling operations. Given these circumstances, the investigation has escalated, with law enforcement officials conducting comprehensive inquiries into Ranya's travel records and financial dealings. The evidence gathered thus far has prompted a closer examination of her connections with individuals in the gold trade, as well as any potential accomplices who may have aided her in these endeavours.