The Customs Department has imposed a penalty of about Rs 89 crore on actor Ranya Rao in connection with the alleged gold smuggling case. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday that he did not have the complete details of the Customs order and would comment after getting more information. The latest action comes after a long investigation into alleged gold smuggling from Dubai to India. The Customs order reportedly covers Rao and three other accused.Key HighlightsCustoms has imposed about Rs 89 crore in penalty on Ranya Rao.The action is linked to an alleged gold smuggling case.Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said he is awaiting complete details.The Customs order reportedly covers four people and carries total penalties of more than Rs 244 crore. What the Customs Investigation FoundThe Ranya Rao gold smuggling case began in March 2025 when Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials intercepted Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after her arrival from Dubai."Officials said they recovered 14.213 kg of foreign-origin gold, valued at around Rs 12.56 crore at that time. Searches linked to the case also led to the recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Rs 2.67 crore in Indian currency, according to the Enforcement Directorate. "The investigation later examined alleged gold movements between March 2024 and February 2025.The latest Customs proceedings reportedly cover allegations involving around 113 kg of gold brought from Dubai to India. A 399-page adjudication order was issued in the case, according to current reports. It is important to distinguish allegations and findings in different proceedings. The Customs penalty is an administrative adjudication under customs law, while separate criminal and money-laundering proceedings have also taken place.Other Accused Also Face PenaltiesThe Ranya Rao Customs penalty is part of a larger order involving four people.According to reports, Rao was fined around Rs 89 crore. Tarun Konduru Raju was penalised Rs 49.51 crore, while Sahil Jain and Bharat Kumar Jain were each fined Rs 53.06 crore. Together, the penalties are more than Rs 244 crore. Earlier, the DRI had issued show-cause notices in 2025 and proposed a penalty of more than Rs 102 crore against Rao in connection with the alleged smuggling activities. The Enforcement Directorate also investigated the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In February 2026, the ED said its investigation had identified 127.287 kg of gold, valued at about Rs 102.55 crore, as having been smuggled into India during the period examined by the agency. Priyank Kharge Seeks Complete DetailsKarnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said he was not yet aware of all the details of the latest Customs decision.“I am not aware of the complete details. I will react after obtaining the information.”Kharge’s statement came after reports of the new penalty against Rao emerged on Thursday. The minister indicated that he would respond after receiving the full information about the Customs order.The case has involved several agencies since Rao was intercepted at Bengaluru airport in March 2025. The DRI investigated the alleged customs violations, while the ED separately examined alleged money-laundering aspects. The Supreme Court also upheld Rao’s preventive detention order under the COFEPOSA Act in April 2026, according to current reporting. She was released from Bengaluru Central Prison on April 22 after completing the one-year detention period.The latest Ranya Rao latest news concerns the Customs adjudication and the Rs 89-crore penalty. Further legal steps, including any challenge to the Customs order, will depend on the parties involved and the applicable legal process.
