ED files prosecution complaint against Ranya, others in gold smuggling and money laundering case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), through its Headquarters Investigation Unit-II, New Delhi, has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, before the Special Court for PMLA cases in Bengaluru against Harshavardini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, Tarun Konduru, and Sahil Sakariya Jain in connection with the gold smuggling and money laundering case.

The ED initiated the probe based on the FIR dated March 7, 2025, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), AC-II, New Delhi, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

The FIR pertains to the interception of 14.213 kg of foreign-origin gold worth approximately ₹12.56 crore from Ranya at the Kempegowda International Airport on March 3, 2025. Subsequent searches reportedly led to the recovery of gold jewellery valued at ₹2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to ₹2.67 crore. The DRI has separately filed a prosecution complaint under Section 135 of the Customs Act, said the ED in a statement.

According to the ED, its investigation revealed that a total of 127.287 kg of gold valued at approximately ₹102.55 crore was smuggled into India between March 2024 and March 2025.

The contraband gold was allegedly disposed of in the domestic market through a network of handlers and jewellers. The proceeds were generated in cash and routed through hawala channels in India and abroad.

These funds were allegedly layered and passed through multiple bank accounts and entities to project them as legitimate business transactions.

Search operations under Section 17 of PMLA were conducted on May 21 and 22, 2025, at 16 locations across Karnataka, leading to the seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices, and Indian and foreign currency.

Statements of several individuals were recorded under Section 50 of PMLA during the course of the probe.

The ED also provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹34.12 crore held in the name of Harshavardini Ranya under Section 5(1) of PMLA through Provisional Attachment Order dated July 4, 2025.