ED seizes 34 crore assets of Ranya & aides in gold smuggling case

NEW DELHI: ED connected Friday said it has attached properties worthy Rs 34 crore linked to Kannada histrion Ranya Rao and her associates successful its ongoing golden smuggling and wealth laundering case.The lawsuit had assumed value aft the histrion claimed proximity to a Karnataka location curate G Parameshwara.

Premises of the second were searched by ED successful May successful transportation with the wealth laundering case.Later, ED shifted its probe into the golden smuggling lawsuit from Bengaluru to its office successful Delhi. The probe unearthed a bigger racket involving respective high-profile businessmen and politicians from the state, too galore hawala dealers engaged successful laundering the proceeds of crime, present being estimated by the bureau astatine astir Rs 56 crore.The attached properties of the histrion are located successful Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka - a location and a residential crippled successful Bengaluru; concern onshore successful Tumkur; and cultivation onshore successful Anekal taluk, with a combined marketplace worth of implicit Rs 34 crore, the bureau said.The 16 premises raided by ED successful May included 2 acquisition trusts belonging to Parmeshwara. The trustswere recovered to person footed recognition paper bills of the histrion and different expenses worthy Rs 40 lakh. Rao was arrested by Customs and DRI officials connected March 3 and implicit 14 kg golden worthy Rs 13 crore was seized.ED's lawsuit is based connected an FIR registered by Delhi portion of CBI connected a seizure of 2 consignments of smuggled golden worthy Rs 31 crore. Later, during searches astatine Rao's residence, officials besides seized unaccounted currency and golden jewellery.