The Karnataka gold smuggling racket is unraveling, exposing deep-rooted connections to international syndicates. Actress Ranya Rao and her associate, Tarun Raju, grandson of a Karnataka hotelier, are in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Sources reveal that Ranya’s phone calls played a key role in implicating Tarun, suspected to be a co-conspirator in the racket. Investigators have unearthed Dubai and Malaysian contacts on Ranya's phone, fueling speculation about her involvement in a broader international smuggling network. Meanwhile, the spotlight is back on her stepfather, senior police officer Ramachandra Rao, with allegations of protocol violations at Bengaluru Airport and possible misuse of influence. The Karnataka government has ordered two separate probes—one by the CID into Ramachandra Rao’s role and another into the alleged involvement of police personnel who may have facilitated the smuggling. As political tensions rise, BJP has accused a Congress minister of shielding the accused, a claim dismissed as "political gossip" by Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. With links to international smugglers, high-profile figures, and law enforcement personnel, the stakes in this gold racket investigation are higher than ever.