The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth Rs. 34 crore linked to Kannada film actor Ranya Rao and her associates in connection with its probe into the gold smuggling and money laundering case. The attached properties of Ranya are located in Bangalore and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. The combined market value of a residential plot in Bangalore, an industrial plot in Tumkur, and agricultural land in Anekal taluka is over Rs. 34 crore.
Premises of trusts belonging to Karnataka home minister G. Parmeshwara were also searched by the ED in May in connection with the money laundering case.
The ED found that Ranya Rao, because of the VIP access she enjoyed at the Bangalore international airport, smuggled in gold. This led the agency to a larger network including hawala operators.
