The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the suspected role public servants in the large-scale smuggling of gold from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India, based on the inputs shared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which recently arrested Kannada actor Ranya Rao allegedly with smuggled gold.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the CBI, the DRI complaint provide details of the two foreigners, an Omani and a UAE national, arrested at Mumbai international airport while allegedly attempting to smuggle in 21.28 kg of gold worth Rs.18.92 crore, on March 6. They had come from Dubai. The agency alleged that the two accused have previously arrived at Mumbai airport multiple times.
In the complaint, the agency also gave details about an “Indian lady passenger” coming from Dubai who was intercepted at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru on March 3, when she was allegedly attempting to smuggle in 14.2 kg of gold worth Rs.12.56 crore. and was arrested. Ms. Rao was taken into custody. Searches at her residence led to the purported seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs.2.06 crore and Rs.2.67 crore in cash.
“The passenger had multiple international travels, including Dubai. These above two cases detected in quick succession involving passengers making trips from Dubai and attempted smuggling of large quantities of gold into India and high frequency of these visits involving Indian and foreign nationals, points to a possible nexus with coordinated smuggling syndicate possibly operating from Dubai (UAE),” said the DRI complaint.
It added: “This may have larger national and international ramifications. The possibility of involvement of unknown public servants and unknown others, which such coordinated network, needs to be investigated.”
After registering the case, the CBI teams were sent to Mumbai and Bengaluru airports to follow the leads and examine the suspected involvement of officials posted there.
(EOM)
Published – March 14, 2025 08:20 am IST