Bengaluru: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested Tarun Raju, the grandson of Atria Hotel’s owner, in connection with a high-profile gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao.
Tarun Raju was taken into custody after investigators uncovered his alleged role in the smuggling operation. The case came to light when Ranya Rao was detained at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with gold bars worth ₹12.56 crore.
According to reports, officials believe Raju and Ranya Rao were part of a larger smuggling racket, illegally bringing gold from foreign countries. Despite a reported fallout after Ranya’s marriage to architect Jatin Hukkeri, sources suggest that both continued their illegal dealings.
A crucial breakthrough in the investigation occurred when the DRI discovered that Ranya had contacted Raju while smuggling gold from Dubai. This link led to his arrest. Raju was detained two days ago and later produced before the special economic offences court in Bengaluru, which granted the DRI five days of custody for further interrogation.
