Sahil Jain, a gold dealer from Ballari, has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for allegedly assisting Kannada actor Ranya Rao in disposing of smuggled gold, a violation under the Customs Act, 1962.
This marks the third arrest in the high-profile gold smuggling case involving Ranya Rao, who was apprehended on March 3 at Kempegowda International Airport with 14.2 kg of gold in her possession.
Jain was taken into custody on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, after being summoned by the DRI for questioning. Following his interrogation, he was formally arrested and presented before the Special Court for Economic Offences, which remanded him to police custody.
According to the DRI, Jain played a key role in helping Rao sell the smuggled gold and allegedly shared the proceeds from its sale. His involvement has been substantiated through his own statements, the agency claims.
Previously, DRI had conducted raids at two jewellery outlets in Bengaluru, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched a gold loan company in connection with the same case. Although Ranya Rao claimed she was coerced into acting as a mule, investigative agencies remain unconvinced.
Court documents reveal that in 2023, Rao and co-accused Tarun Raju established Vira Diamonds Trading LLC in Dubai, which claimed to import gold from Geneva and Bangkok. However, DRI alleges the duo was illegally smuggling the gold into India.
While Rao insists she has been falsely implicated, Tarun Raju stated he exited the firm in December last year and has filed for bail. Both their bail pleas were earlier denied, and they remain in judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The Sessions Court is set to deliver its verdict on Rao’s bail appeal on Thursday.