Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: DRI seeks CBI help to probe ‘coordinated smuggling syndicate’, role of govt officials

The CBI registered an FIR on March 7 after they received a complaint from Additional Director, DRI, Abhishek Chandra Gupta. Director General, DRI, Abhai Kumar Srivastav sent his letter to CBI Director Praveen Sood, along with Gupta’s letter, stating that the complaint pertains to detection of two cases of attempted gold smuggling in huge quantities in quick succession (March 3 and March 6), involving Indian and foreign passengers, making trips from Dubai.

“DRI has arrested two foreigners at Mumbai international airport attempting to smuggle 21.28 kg of gold into India worth around Rs 18.92 crore on March 6. These two passengers had come from Dubai and had previously arrived at Mumbai airport multiple times,” Gupta said in his complaint. He said earlier DRI had intercepted an Indian lady passenger (Ranya Rao) coming from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, on March 3.

“She was attempting to smuggle 14.2 kg gold worth Rs 12.56 crore and was arrested. Searches at her residence led to recovery of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and Indian currency amounting to Rs 2.67 crore. These passengers also had multiple international travels, including Dubai,” he said.

“These two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai, the attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and the high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals point to a possible nexus with a coordinated smuggling syndicate, possibly operating from Dubai… This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants of the government of India and unknown others with such a coordinated network needs to be investigated,” he said.