C J Roy death brings back focus on raids on brother’s properties in Ranya case

Bengaluru

Following the death by suicide of Confident Group chairman C J Roy, attention has turned to a March 13, 2025 raid carried out by central investigative agencies at premises linked to his brother C J Babu, as part of a probe into a high-profile gold smuggling racket involving Kannada actress Ranya Rao.

On March 13, a joint team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted searches at multiple locations in Bengaluru in connection with the gold smuggling case that surfaced earlier this month with the arrest of Ranya Rao at the Kempegowda International Airport.

Among the locations searched were properties linked to White Gold, the gold-purchase arm of a business group promoted by C J Babu, sources in the Karnataka Police had then said. The searches were part of an effort to trace the source of funds used for procuring gold abroad and to identify the end buyers of the smuggled consignment.

Ranya Rao, whose passport name is Harshavardini Ranya, was arrested by the DRI on March 3 after she arrived from Dubai with 14.2 kg of gold bars worth Rs 12.56 crore, allegedly concealed on her body. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore and cash amounting to Rs 2.67 crore.

The DRI has alleged that the actress made multiple trips to Dubai and received funds through hawala channels, pointing to the existence of a coordinated smuggling syndicate with possible international links. The CBI later registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy provisions, citing similar gold smuggling cases detected at the Mumbai airport.

The earlier searches involving entities linked to C J Babu have resurfaced in public focus following the death of his brother C J Roy, who allegedly shot himself at his Langford Road office in Bengaluru on Friday while Income Tax officials were present at the premises. Police have said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death.

Officials have maintained that the gold smuggling probe and the investigation into Roy’s death are separate, but acknowledged that financial records and documents seized during earlier searches are part of ongoing scrutiny by multiple agencies.