Ranya Rao Duped of ₹2 Cr by Ugandan Gold Agent, Led to Smuggling Spree
Image Source: Internet
Nearly two years before Kannada actor Ranya Rao was arrested for smuggling gold, she and her associate were cheated of ₹2 crore by a Ugandan gold agent, officials have revealed.
Rao and her associate, Tarun Konduru Raju, tried sourcing gold from suppliers in African nations, including Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, before resorting to smuggling the prized metal from Dubai.
They opened a company called Vira Diamonds Trading LLC in Dubai in 2023 to facilitate the transfer and paid ₹25,000 upfront, followed by two separate payments of around $10,000 each.
However, the Uganda-based agent didn't deliver any gold, and Rao was coordinating from Dubai to arrange cash and hand it over to Ben's associate in Dubai.
Raju eventually discovered that it was a scam, resulting in a loss exceeding ₹2 crore.
