Unknown caller under lens as CBI eyes gold smuggling racket

An unknown caller with an "African American accent", who allegedly asked Kannada actress Ranya Rao to collect gold bars from the Dubai international airport, is under the radar of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the federal agency is looking for a larger international syndicate that uses high-profile individuals as smuggling "mules".

- Neeraj Chauhan and Arun Dev

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU:

Rao was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru on March 3 after Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials found her in possession of 14.2 kg of gold bars worth ₹12.5 crore, upon her arrival from Dubai. Other than CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also now joined the case to investigate the money laundering aspect of the smuggling.

"Based on Rao's interrogation as well as information shared by DRI, we are investigating a larger international syndicate which used high-profile individuals such as foreigners, people having VIP access, and even families travelling together for holidays, as mules. These individuals receive VoIP (voice over internet protocol) calls from unknown callers like Rao received calls from a person with an African American accent," said an officer, who asked not to be named.

The federal agency will take the assistance of Interpol to get more details about the syndicate members, which, it suspects, is not limited to the UAE but has associates in Europe, the US and other countries as well, according to officials aware of the probe.

An investigation report in the case, seen by HT, says that Rao, before her travel on March 3, received calls from unknown numbers "asking her to be at gate 'A' of terminal-3 of Dubai International Airport to collect the gold bars and deliver it in Bengaluru".